Narayan Dev gave an account in his Manasamangal about the merchant ship of the trader Chand Saudagar proceeding to the sea from ancient Champaknagar of Assam passing through Saptagram and Tribeni, the tri-junction of the Ganges, Saraswati and Jamuna River.
The Baniyas of Assam were offered good ranks in the Ahom Administration/Army: Pani Phukan, Hazarika, Baruah, Borah, Mudoi etc.
The Bania people like the Kaibarta were considered lower class by the Kayastha and Brahmin community of Assam during the medieval period.
Sonadhar Senapati was also the founder of Asom Bania Sabha, a Dalit organization of Assam during the early period of 19th Century.
It was under the leadership of Sonadhar Senapati, that these indigenous communities from the Brahmaputra Valley were inserted in the Schedule Caste category by the Govt.
Indira Miri, who did her master's degree at University of Edinburgh, UK during that time, was appointed as the Chief Education Officer of NEFA with her base at Sadiya, a small Assamese town, and worked among the tribals for ten years.
She also served the Guwahati University as a member of its executive council, the renowned Indian educationist, awardee of Padmashree award.
[8][9][10] People from this community are found in various districts of Brahmaputra Valley, Kamrup, Udalguri, Darrang, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Majuli, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh etc.