Bangladesh: Follow-up to Response to Information Request BGD28186.E of 31 October 1997 on the Barva (possibly a tribe, clan or caste) from the Chittagong area, including their location, whether they are all Buddhist and on whether they face any discrimination or harassment from the authorities, police or local population
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD28308.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Follow-up to Response to Information Request BGD28186.E of 31 October 1997 on the Barva (possibly a tribe, clan or caste) from the Chittagong area, including their location, whether they are all Buddhist and on whether they face any discrimination or harassment from the authorities, police or local population, 1 November 1997, BGD28308.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aac29b.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an 11 November 1997 fax received from the Organising Committee, Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the Barua (not Barva) are a
Bengali Buddhist minority in the Chittagong area in the south of Bangladesh (to be distinguished [from] the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the Southeast). They are not a 'tribe,' they are Bengalis, but Buddhist in contrast to the majority of Bengalis who are Muslim. Being a religious minority they do face some discrimination from the side of the majority population and may from time to time similarly also be subjected to police harrassment, but not more than e.g. the Christian minority in Bangladesh and in no way similar to the discrimination and human rights violations against the Buddhist Chakma and Marma peoples or the other ethnic groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Rather, many Baruas have in the conflict with the Bangladesh government and the people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts often chosen the side of the government and not the side of their Buddhist fellow citizens.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Organising Committee Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 11 November 1997. Letter faxed on 12 November 1997 to the Research Directorate.
