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The Khyang

Total population
~4,826
Regions with significant populations
Bangladesh	4,826
Myanmar	Unknown
Religion
Theravada Buddhism (61.71 %), Christianity (38.29 %)

Kheyang is the exonym of the Hyow. There Kheyang or the Hyow (খিয়াং), are a group of indigenous people inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The Khyang are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 4,826 according to the 2022 census.

Etymology

The word Kheyang originated in khlɔng, which means person in the language. The endonym Hyow means Chin.

History

According to Kheyang chronicles, the Khyangs with their king entered Chittagong Hill Tracts when their kingdom in Burma was overrun by the Burmese. But afterwards the king decided to go back to Burma. But his younger queen being pregnant could not accompany him. Hence she was left behind with some followers and kinsmen. The present Kheyang are the descendants of this queen and her retinue. However, the literature of the Burmese history tells that the Kheyang migrated with the Marma from the southern Myanmar in the late eighteenth century. The Kheyang have two groups in Bangladesh: Laitu and Kongtu. The Kheyang were Buddhists but many converted to Christianity during the British period. Most Khyang today are under the Mong family or the "Royal Family" which is from Chandraghona, Rangamati Hill Districts in Bangladesh.

Geographical distribution

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, there are 4,826 Khyang in Bangladesh. Among them, 2,502 in Bandarban District and 1,670 in Rangamati District.

Social system

Every Khyang society has a leader who is called 'Karbari' or 'Headman'. Kheyang society has a patriarchal structure. The father of a family is the master of the house. If a village lacks a headman, the villagers unitedly appoint a leader. The leader solves all the disputes that may develop among the villagers and, thus, helps them live in peace. If a person is accused of any criminal wrongdoing, the headman takes steps in line with customary social laws.

The accused is generally punished or forgiven, and the judgement is passed in front of all after measuring the enormity of the misdeed. Both the male and female of the Kheyang community are very industrious. Men dominate and especially follow the laws of society.

See also

• Persecution of Buddhists in Bangladesh
• Tribal people in Chittagong Hill Tracts

References

1. "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF) (in Bengali). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33.
2. "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF) (in Bengali). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33.
3. Project, Joshua. "Asho Khyang in Bangladesh". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
4. Vanbik, Kenneth (2009). "VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. Proto-Kuki-Chin, A Reconstructed Ancestor of the Kuki-Chin Languages". VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. Proto-Kuki-Chin, A Reconstructed Ancestor of the Kuki-Chin Languages.
5. "Khyang". Banglapedia.
6. Phayre, A. (1883). History of Burma, including Burma proper, Pegu, Taungu, Tenasserim, and Arakan. From the earliest time to the end of the first war with British India. London: Trübner & Co. p. 172.
7. Brauns, C.; Löffler, L. (1990). Mru: Hill people on the border of Bangladesh. Berlin: Birkhäuser Verlag. p. 30.
8. "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
9. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Bandarban (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 202–206. ISBN 978-984-475-276-4.
10. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Rangamati (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 235–239. ISBN 978-984-475-257-3.
11. ^ "Khyengs Social System". Bangladesh Ethnobotany Online Database. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015.

• http://www.ebbd.info/khyengs-religious-festivals.html

v t e Ethnic groups in Bangladesh
Indo-Aryans	Assamese Barua Stranded Pakistanis/Biharis Beens Bengalis Dhakaiyas Mahifarash Kahar Kan Rohingyas Shershabadia Sylhetis Mahimal Bishnupriya Manipuris Bonaz Keot Koch Nepalis Polia Rajbongshi Ranjoarh Urdu-speaking people
Austro-Asiatic	Aowe Bauri Bhumij Jalia Kaibarta Kharia Khasi Mahle Munda Kora Sabar Pnar/Jaintia Santals
Dravidian	Kurukh/Oraon Mushahar Malto Mal Paharia Sauria Paharia
Tibeto-Burman	Chak Chakma Dalu Garo Hajong Khumi Khyang Laleng Marma Meitei Pangal Rakhine Tanchangya Tripuri Zo Bawm Chin Mru Kuki Halam Pankho Hrangkhol Mizo
Others	Jummas
Immigrants and expatriates	v t e Immigration to Bangladesh Asia Armenians (Dhaka) Burmese (Rohingya refugees) Chinese South Asia Indians Nepalis Stranded Pakistanis Europe Britons

• Ethnic groups in Bangladesh
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• Ethnic groups in Myanmar