TheBeen people (Bengali:বীন,Hindi:बीन), also known asBind (Bengali:বিন্দ),[1] are aHindi-speaking community that live inSrimangal,Bangladesh. They were transported to theSylhet region in the nineteenth century by the British in order to work as tea garden labourers - an occupation which they continue to live by today. They are originally from the border region betweenWest Bengal andBihar. They areHindus and maintain a distinct identity in addition to theirBangladeshi national identity, due to cultural, linguistic, geographical and historical reasons. Many have adopted theBengali language; although only 10% of the community are actually literate in the language.[2]
