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The Marma () are the second-largest ethnic community in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts, primarily residing in the Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati Hill Districts. They belong to the same community as the Rakhine people. There are three endogamous groups of Marma within the Magh Community, known as (i) the Thongtha, Khyongtha, or Mrokpatha, (ii) the Marma, Mayamma, or Rakhaing Magh, (iii) the Maramagri, otherwise called the Barua people.
By 1585, European, Persian, and Bengali accounts began describing the Marma and other Buddhist groups like the Barua people in the region as the Mugh or Magh, which were not used by the groups themselves. The word's etymology is likely to derive from Magadha, the name of an ancient Buddhist kingdom. The Marmas considered these names to be pejorative because of the word's association with piracy, and thus assumed the name Marma in the 1940s. Some Marmas in the Indian state of Tripura continue to self-identify as Marima, or as Mogs.
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Marmas migrated from their homeland to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, coinciding with the Kingdom of Mrauk U's conquest of Chittagong. Generally, the Rakhine people settled in the hill tracts during Mrauk U invasion of Chittagong gradually formed the Marma identity. The Rakhines who migrated later to the coastal plains of Chittagong during the Burmese invasion of Arakan continued using the term "Rakhine."
Records of the East India Company and others indicate that the Marmas migrated from the Kingdom of Mrauk U to Chittagong of Bangladesh in two phases of migrations during 14th to 17th centuries in the golden period of Mrauk U. In the first phase, during the Mrauk U Kingdom expanded to some parts of Chittagong Division. Secondly, Marma ancestors fled to Chittagong and settled down as the Arakanese kingdom was conquered and annexed by Burmese king Bodawpaya in 1785.
In 1971, following the Bangladesh Liberation War in which Bangladesh achieved independence, the country's majority Bengali Muslims began settling in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which has displaced native inhabitants.
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 49.48% |
| Guimara Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 38.10% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 36.65% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.37% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.04% |
| Kaptai Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 28.59% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 27.86% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 23.97% |
| Lakshmichhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 21.82% |
| Manikchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 18.73% |
| Mahalchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 15.25% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 11.32% |
| Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 10.86% |
| Ramgarh Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 10.61% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 8.97% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.15% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.04% |
| Panchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 3.12% |
| Matiranga Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 2.07% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 1.88% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 1.73% |
| Others | _ | <1%% |
The culture of the Marmas is similar to that of the Rakhine people, including their language, food, clothes, religion, dance, and funeral rites. Marma men wear a sarong called longyi, while Marma women wear a sarong called thabein.
Marmas mostly depend on agriculture, traditionally practicing slash-and-burn cultivation on the hills. Their belief in Theravada Buddhism is as deep as the Rakhine society's, with an emphasis on ritual practices in deities. Some Marmas also practice Animism, Christianity. (2025). 9781579584689, Routledge. ISBN 9781579584689
Marmas follow the Burmese calendar. They celebrate the New Year, called Sangrai (သင်္ကြန်), which begins on the first day of Bohag Bihu. They make sangraimu, which is a form of traditional cakes. They take part in Sangrain Relong Pwe (သင်္ကြန်ရေလောင်းပွဲ; water pouring), where young Marma men and women spray each other with water. Sangrai is celebrated in three days, On the 1st day, called Painchwai or Akro, homes are decorated with flowers. On the 2nd day, Sangrai Akya, Marmas participate in traditional sports, dances, cultural activities and hold meetings regarding community issues. They also go to monasteries to participate in the Buddha statue's bathing (cleansing) ritual on this day. On the 3rd day, called Sangrai Atada, they cook a vegetable dish made out of more than 100 ingredients, called hangbong (ဟင်းပေါင်း; pachan in Bangla).
After death, Marma elderlies are cremated, while younger deceased Marmas are buried.
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