Migration, Religion, and Caste: The Impact of Bengali Settlement on Indigenous Buddhist Social Structures in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

This study explores how Bengali migration, primarily of Muslim settlers, has transformed indigenous Buddhist social structures in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. The demographic shift has intensified ethnic and religious tensions, affecting indigenous Buddhist communities such as the Chakma, Marma, and Tanchangya. This research examines how migration, religion, and caste-like hierarchies intersect, reshaping social relations and indigenous identity. While Buddhism in the CHT traditionally emphasizes inclusivity, local communities report that Bengali dominance has led to economic marginalization, land dispossession, and socio-political exclusion, reinforcing caste-like divisions. Using ethnographic interviews and historical analysis, this study highlights indigenous perspectives on religious coexistence, resistance, and adaptation in response to settler expansion. Findings suggest that migration has not only threatened indigenous autonomy but also altered Buddhist monastic and social structures, influencing perceptions of caste, identity, and intergroup relations. This research contributes to discourses on migration, religious pluralism, and indigenous resistance in South Asia.