Bangladesh (MNN) — On February 12, millions of people in Bangladesh will vote in their first general election since protests toppled the previous government in 2024. But it is doubtful whether a new government can reverse the social pressure Christians and minorities have been facing over the past year and a half.
Under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, rising militancy has been allowed to grow. Bruce Allen with FMI says radical Muslims have been energized by the chaos. This has led to greater threats and obstacles for church planters — people like Pastor Jit, who pastors five congregations.
Pastor Mintu baptizes a young woman in Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)
“He has noticed that there’s increased surveillance in his district by the Bangladesh Army, and so the questions that army officers ask him as he travels from village to village are also increasing,” says Allen. “So it’s getting harder for him to shepherd these five ministry sites.”
New believers haven’t escaped challenges, either. Partners of FMI in Bangladesh report many young Christians who have left Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. They want to publicly declare their faith in Christ. However, “they understand that in the current social climate, it can cost them. It can cost them their property where they live. It can cost them their job. It could cost them their life,” says Allen.
Please pray
Pray for wisdom for Christians obeying God’s call to be baptized. “Pastor Basil, he’s preparing seven new believers for baptism in the coming weeks. So ministry is moving forward, but let’s pray for those who are the youngest in the faith, that their courage will grow, their spiritual vitality will grow as they take baptism,” says Allen.
Pray also for stamina for church planters like Pastor Jit, “for their ability to relate well to those who are in authority,” says Allen. “We do see ministry moving forward, but they’re just having to be very, very careful.”
Bangladesh is 90% Muslim according to Joshua Project. Ask God to bring leaders to power in the February 12 election who will govern justly on behalf of people of all faiths.
You can help the gospel of Christ spread by sponsoring FMI church planters like Pastor Dipankar, FMI’s newest partner who started in February 2026. Learn how a church, a family, or an individual can launch a partnership with Pastor Dipankar or another of FMI’s 112 overseas partners at forgottenmissionaries.org.
Header photo: Pastor Sudeepa teaching Sunday School in Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)
