Barmans being left out of ongoing govt survey

The Barman community in northern Bangladesh says many of its members are being excluded from a government survey on ethnic minorities’ socio-economic conditions and poverty. Despite being among the government’s 50 recognised ethnic minority groups, Barmans in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh say they are being asked to produce district administration certificates to prove their identity.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), under the Statistics and Informatics Division, is conducting the survey on the Socio-economic Conditions and Poverty Situation of Ethnic Minority Communities 2026. Data collection began on October 1 and will continue until October 25.

The survey aims to prepare a complete household list of ethnic minority communities, assess their living conditions and poverty levels, and create a database for future development plans.
 
According to the survey manual, the government recognises 50 ethnic minority groups under a gazette notification issued in 2019. 

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs officially listed the Barman community as an ethnic minority group at serial number 15 in a revised gazette published on March 19, 2019, under Section 19 of the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institutions Act, 2010.

However, members of the Barman community in the northern districts allege that the requirement for administrative certificates is preventing some of them from being counted. A Thakurgaon district enumerator also acknowledged this on condition of anonymity.

Even no enumerators from the Barman community have been recruited in the northern region, despite the survey’s stated plan to involve young students from ethnic minority communities in data collection. 

The survey manual lists the Koch community at number two and the Barman community at number 15. 

Greater Mymensingh, Gazipur and northern Bangladesh are listed as major areas where Koch people live. Greater Mymensingh and Gazipur are identified as major areas for the Barman community. The manual also notes that Barmans live in areas where Garo, Koch and Hajong communities are found.

The manual includes a separate section on identifying ethnic minority households. For the Barman community, it mentions Barman and Koch-related identities, the use of Bengali and Koch-Rajbanshi languages, Hindu religious practices, farming and folk music. 

Historical records and research have also discussed links between the Koch and Barman communities.

The Census of British India 1871�"72 stated that the Koch, Paliya and Rajbansi were, in most cases, considered the same tribe. The 1881 census recorded 1,878,804 Koch people in Bengal and Assam combined.

According to the Population and Housing Census 2022, Bangladesh has 44,657 people identified as Barman and 13,702 as Koch.

Thakurgaon District Statistics Office Deputy Director (Acting) Md Faisal Hasan told The Daily Observer that officials were struggling to identify ethnic minority Barmans due to their physical similarities with Bengali Barmans.

He said initial guidelines required district administration certificates in some cases, but officials were discussing alternatives. “Some children identify as Barman, while their parents disagree,” he said, adding that the issue had been reported to district and central authorities.

Regarding the absence of Barman enumerators, he said the recruitment list was prepared after the district administration verified names submitted by relevant organisations.

Panchagarh District Statistics Office Deputy Director Md Enamul Haque told The Daily Observer that certificates were required to distinguish ethnic minority Barmans from Bengali Barmans.

Asked why other family members were excluded when one member held a certificate, he said officials were following project office instructions.

He added that the enumerators list was prepared in consultation with local ethnic minority groups and the administration, but no Barman was included.

Rangpur Divisional Statistics Office Joint Director Md Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Observer that Barmans qualifying as ethnic minorities were being included in the survey. Bengali or Hindu Barmans could also be included with the required certificate.

He said officials assessed language, traditions, culture and clothing where certificates were not required, but excluded those identifying as Bengali or Kshatriya Barman.

Responding to complaints about family members being excluded despite one member holding a certificate, he said such cases could be considered individually.

Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, when asked why certificates were being required despite the community’s inclusion in the government gazette, said the relevant statistics officials would be able to explain the survey rules in detail.

Farhana Sultana, project director of the survey and deputy director of the BBS’s PLS Cell, said senior authorities were looking into the issue of including the Barman community in northern Bangladesh. She said the matter had been formally taken up by the higher authorities.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md Firoz Sarkar also said the complaints involving Barmans in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh would be examined.

Speaking to The Daily Observer, he said the authorities were aware of the issue. They would hear the views of the parties concerned through the relevant authorities before discussing the matter and deciding what action was needed.

Steps had been taken to address the issue after it came to their attention. He added that the authorities would be able to understand the problems more clearly after hearing all sides.