Bangladesh (MNN) – In Bangladesh, Christians make up a tiny fraction of the population — less than one percent. As political instability and social unrest surge, vulnerable religious minorities increasingly find themselves under attack.
Since early August, Bangladesh has been under an interim government after the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
Bruce Allen of FMI says, “Anytime you have this social upheaval, it’s usually the minorities that bear the brunt of that in terms of society’s anger over the situation. You know, it’s kind of like kicking the lowest rung on the social ladder.”
For Christians in Bangladesh, persecution takes many forms. Some believers are harassed, some are forced to flee their homes, and others face violent attacks.
Christian leaders are being specifically targeted – like Pastor Rajiv*, a local partner of FMI on their leadership team.
New evangelist, Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)
“On the eastern edge of the country, Pastor Rajiv…was attacked and his property set on fire,” Allen recounts.
“A few weeks prior to that, his two dogs were poisoned and killed. He had these dogs on the premises to protect his family and his property, so the poisoning was intentional so that later attacks could go unnoticed in the night.”
Despite these challenges, God’s work in Bangladesh continues.
“Even in the midst of such darkness, people are looking for: ‘Where is our hope?’” says Allen.
FMI supports Bangladeshi church planters and evangelists taking the Gospel to the 99% of Bangladesh’s population that doesn’t know Jesus.
“Last year…through the testimony of our partners, church planters, [and] evangelists in Bangladesh, 2,500 people placed their faith in Jesus Christ across 40 ministry sites that we support, and nine new churches were planted!”
Local Christian leaders are not praying for ease or comfort – but for endurance.
“[Pastor Rajiv] says, ‘Pray for our strength and our resilience,’” shares Allen. “And I just go, ‘Wow, what an amazing testimony that you’re not giving up, you’re not withdrawing. You say this is the time that we need to serve our neighbors, our countrymen, and show them where hope can be found.’”
You can support Christian leaders in Bangladesh with FMI.
*Name changed for security.
Header photo of Christians praying in Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)
