Arakan and Chittagong Pali traditions

Hello,

Has any research been done on the Arakan and Chittagong Pali textual
traditions? Do they use different scripts than the Burmese script? It is
possible that there are texts or recensions of texts preserved in this
area which are unknown elsewhere. In a book on the Theravada Sangha
called Banner of the Arahants I found the following interesting information:

``Bangladesh has a considerable Buddhist minority with a Sangha divided
between two traditions. One is a small group of bhikkhus, the Mahaathera
Nikaaya, who claim to be descended from bhikkkhu fleeing from Bihar at
the time of the Moslem invasions. It is reported that thery were
corrupted in the course of time in their new home but refused the chance
of re-ordination by Burmese bhikkhus. This was taken by the great
majority who now form the Sangharaja nikaya. In fact the latter group
alone can claim to be Theravada although the other group has reformed
itself and is hardly distinguishable now.''

The author, Bhikkhu Khantipalo, must be referring the Chittagong hill
area that borders the Arakan area. I don't know anything about the
history and ethnography of these areas, but the Mahaathera nikaya might
also have existed in Arakan.

The bhikkhus who came to Sri Lanka to reintroduce the Upasampada in the
early and late 17th centuries came from Rakkhangadesa, i.e. Arakan,
according to the Mahavamsa.

Best wishes,
                        Bh. Nyanatusita