Beens

Indo-Aryan community

Ethnic group

Beens
Total population
5,000
Regions with significant populations
Srimangal (Bangladesh) - 5,000
Languages
Bengali and Hindi
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Indo-Aryan peoples

The Been people (Bengali: বীন, Hindi: बीन), also known as Bind (Bengali: বিন্দ),^[1] are a Hindi-speaking community that live in Srimangal, Bangladesh. They were transported to the Sylhet region in the nineteenth century by the British in order to work as tea garden labourers - an occupation which they continue to live by today. They are originally from the border region between West Bengal and Bihar. They are Hindus and maintain a distinct identity in addition to their Bangladeshi national identity, due to cultural, linguistic, geographical and historical reasons. Many have adopted the Bengali language; although only 10% of the community are actually literate in the language.^[2]

References

^ Anisur Rahman (13 November 2018). "আমাদের 'আদিবাসী' ভাষা ও সাহিত্য". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali).
^ Jengcham, Subhas (2012). "Been". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 3 June 2024.