Garo Settlement, Migration and Cultural Traits:

An Overview

Abstract

Garo is a unique matrilineal community in Bangladesh with distinct cultural features, migrated from highland of China, particularly from Tibet to Indian sub-continent, eventually to Bangladesh. There is shortage of evidence-based information on Garo migration and settlement, also conflicting viewpoint exist on the issue. The fundamental focus of this article is to analyze the Garo origin, settlement and their migration to Bangladesh. Accordingly, the study emphasizes on Garos ethnic origin and their travel to Indian sub-continent as well as to present day Bangladesh. During this expedition, Garo faces terrible challenges and tries to settle many places in the last centuries. Garos’ cultural origin is distinguished, where they practice matrilineal system with unique inheritance system, marriage, religion, kinship grouping but nowadays, transforming significantly but some traditional beliefs and practices are still observed among the Garos. Case studies, observations, FGDs and interview methods have been utilized to collect the ethnographic data from the Garos of Modhupur of Tangail District. We have very little, unreliable and unclear historical evidence on the Garo origin, settlement and migration, but whatever information we have, that represent their Garo ethnic origin and settlement in Bangladesh.