Read the text and answer questions

Bangladesh is home to more than 54 Indigenous groups, including the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura, with most living in the northern and southeastern flatlands, and the rest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They have distinct lifestyles, economic practices, and belief systems. These groups speak at least 35 distinct languages, adding to the country's cultural richness . However, many of these languages are ondangered, as the dominance of Bangla and modern societal pressures push thom towards extinction, a global issue known as "language death." The UN warns that many Indigenous languages are disappearing, with ones. dying every two weeks.

During the British colonial rule indigenous communities played, a significant role in resisting oppression. Leaders like Sidhu and legacy, Kanu lod uprisings, such as the Santhal Rebellion, highlighting their contributions to the anti-colonial struggle. Despite this Indigenous people in Bangladesh today face challenges in preserving their languages and culture. The government's efforts to include Indigenous languages in preschool education face hurdles like a lack of trained teachers and resources for higher education.

Additionally, the 1957 construction of the Kaptai Dam, funded by USAID and built by the Pakistani government, displaced thousands of people in the hill tracts, submerging their homes and farmlands under the Karnaphuli River, disrupting their livelihoods and cultural connections to the land. This history of displacement and ongoing marginalization continues to affect indigenous communities in Bangladesh.

• (1) True or False? If False, give the correct information.
• (a)

  Bangladesh is home to more than 54 indigenous groups, including the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura.

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• (b)

  Indigenous groups in Bangladesh speaksorily a few languages, with most of them being well-preserved.

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• (c)

  The dominance of Bangla has helped preserve indigenous languages in Bangladesh.

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• (d)

  Sidhu and Kanu were leaders of uprisings during the British colonial period.

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• (e)

  The Kaptai Dam, built in 1957, displaced thousands of people in the hill tracts, disrupting their connection to the land.

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• (2) Answer the following questions from your reading of the above text.
• (a)

  In which part of Bangladesh do most indigenous groups live?

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• (b)

  How many distinct languages do Indigenous groups in Bangladesh speak?

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• (c)

  What global issue is related to the decline of indigenous languages?

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• (d)

  What organization warns that many Indigenous languages are disappearing?

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• (e)

  What has made it difficult for indigenous people to preserve their languages today?

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• (f)

  How many Indigenous groups are there in Bangladesh?

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• (g)

  Where do the Indigenous groups in Bangladesh live?

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• (h)

  How many distinct languages are spoken by Indigenous groups in Bangladesh?

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• (i)

  What global issue threatens the survival of Indigenous languages in Bangladesh?

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• (j)

  How frequently does the UN report an Indigenous language disappears globally?

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• (k)

  What role did Indigenous communities play during British colonial rule?

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• (l)

  Which Indigenous leaders were associated with the Santhal Rebellion?

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• (m)

  What challenges do Indigenous people in Bangladesh face in preserving their language and culture?

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• (n)

  What was the impact of the 1957 construction of the Kaptai Dam?

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• (o)

  Who funed the construction of the Kaptai Dam and who built it?

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• (3)

  Fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text.

  There are 54 indigenous groups in Bangladesh who have distinct (a) _________ economic practices and belief systems. They live mostly in the northern and southern (b) _______ and the rest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They speak at Icast 35 indigenous (c) _______ which now under the thrent of extinction by the dominance of Bangla. Despite the significant role in the anti colonial struggle during the British rule, they are now facing (d) _______ in preserving their language and culture. Moreover, the construction: of Kaptai dam in 1957 by Pakistani Govt. led to the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in the (e) _______ tracts.

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• (4) Write the synonym or antonym of the following words as directed.
• (a)

  flatland (antonym)

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• (b)

  belief (antonym)

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• (c)

  dominance (synonym)

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• (d)

  disappear (synonym)

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• (e)

  rebellion (synonym)

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