Abstract

INSIGHTS INTO HAJONG TRIBAL MEDICINAL PRACTICES IN TANGAIL DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Delara Jabin, Sharmin Jahan, Md. Shahadat Hossan, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. The Hajongs form a quite established tribal community residing in various districts in north central Bangladesh. The medicinal practices of the community are unique. It was of interest to document the practices of a Hajong tribal medicinal practitioner (TMP) practicing among the Hajong community of Chunia village in Tangail district, Bangladesh. Methods. Interview of the TMP was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided fieldwalk method. Results. The TMP interviewed used a total of 39 plants distributed into 28 families for treatment. It was of interest to note that besides treating common and some complicated diseases like hypertension, uterine prolapse, and diabetes, the TMP also used medicinal plants to ward off what he termed as genies and evil spirits, which according to him supposedly takes possession of persons or casts an evil eye thereby affecting the physical and mental health of the person(s) affected. The TMP also used some plants in his treatment, which are documented for the first time. Conclusion. Scientific attention needs to focus on the various tribal medicinal practices of Bangladesh for TMPs possess quite remarkable knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants.

Keywords: Tribal medicine, medicinal plants, Hajong, Tangail, Bangladesh.