But as the newly elected councils of the Chittagong Hills begin to function, they may face debilitating problems, local leaders say.
The largest areas of forest are in the Chittagong Hills and the Sundarbans.
They are also using the lack of hill peoples' rights as a means of attracting more support among the people in the Chittagong Hills.
Indian intelligence agencies have also supported guerrilla groups in the Chittagong Hills in Bangladesh.
The Chittagong Hills rise steeply to narrow ridge lines, generally no wider than 36 meters, with altitudes from 600 to 900 meters above sea level.
The Mros are considered the original inhabitants of the Chittagong Hills.
The other two are in the mangrove areas of the Sunderbans and the Chittagong Hills.
Trying to prevent an ethnic insurgency from becoming a full-fledged rebellion, the Government held an election today in the remote Chittagong Hills.
The Mru language is spoken by a small group in the Chittagong Hills between Bangladesh and Burma.
In Bangladesh, only isolated populations survive in the Chittagong Hills.
