Thousands of ethnic minority communities live in the: Lawachara Punji, Magurchara Punji, Dalubari, Kalenji Punji, Aliachara Punji, Nirala Punji, Doublechara Punji, Maraichara Punji, Madhabkunda Punji, and Kailan Punji of Moulvibazar. "Every citizen has the right to practice their own mother language; however, these languages are on the brink of extinction due to the widespread use of Bangla, and the lack of initiatives to preserve these languages," Gem said. Magurchara Punji Primary School has 30 students from the first to fourth grade. Despite their contribution to the society through the tea industry, these people lack: education, healthcare, land rights; and concurrently the preservation of their mother languages. "We do not have books in the Khasia language, and we do not know the source of it," Domin said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 23, 2019 03:45 UTC