Ten Christian converts from Islam were bound with ropes in their homes and beaten by Muslim villagers armed with bricks and wooden clubs in Nilphamari district, Bangladesh on June 26, according to a July 3 report from Compass Direct. Several believers required hospitalization and one house was destroyed in the attack. The Muslims gave the believers an ultimatum to leave the village within twenty-four hours and threatened to kill two of them. The deadline expired without incident, however. Police have stationed a special protective team in the village of Durbachari for three months in order to allow the converts to stay in their homes and continue to work in the area. Their children, however, can no longer attend the Islamic school, the only local educational institution.
Pray that these believers will set Christ apart as Lord and not be controlled by fear because of these kinds of attacks (1 Peter 3:14-17). Ask God to enable Christian parents to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Christ so that their children will be encouraged to walk closely with Him (Deuteronomy 11:18-20, 2 Timothy 1:5). Pray that those who persecute Christians in Bangladesh will come to know Christ as Lord.
The people of Bangladesh are hungry for the Word of God, and in response VOMC is helping to provide Bible training to a group of Christian men who have a strong desire to learn and grow.
Ethnicity (%) Bengali (99), other indigenous ethnic groups (1)
Religions (%) Islam (91), Hinduism (8), other - includes Buddhism and Christianity (1) (2022 est)
Leader President Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppi (2023)
Government type Parliamentary republic
Legal system Based on English common law and Islamic law.
Source: CIA World Factboo
Pray for Bangladesh
As the Word of God goes forth in Bangladesh through the Christian radio and television broadcasts, may the "Good News" of the Gospel accomplish mighty things in the lives of all who hear it! Pray that the seeds sown in hearts will take root and bear healthy and lasting fruit, and that the spiritual leaders of this country will be ready and equipped to disciple the resulting influx of new believers.
For several weeks, a small church in Suandrapara, a village of southeastern Bangladesh, has been facing threats from militant Buddhists who were attempting to coerce the Christians to return to Buddhism, even though many of the churchgoers had converted several years before. As a result of the oppression, most of the 50 members of the Bangladesh Tribal Baptist Church have been forced to stay away from their homes for fear of attack.
In last week's "Persecution & Prayer Alert," an urgent prayer request was issued for Christians who were recently attacked in a Rohingya refugee camp and the imminent forced marriage of a pastor's daughter to a Muslim man (read more). Since the previous report, more details have continued to come to light.
The attack occurred in Kutapalong, the world's largest refugee camp. More than 20 Christian families were attacked with at least 12 people injured. A similar attack happened in May 2019 by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army who claim to be fighting for the liberation of the Rohingya. Local police insist that the ARSA is not involved and have downplayed the number of injured.
Please immediately stop and pray for this critical need right now as it's a very time-sensitive situation and in the process of happening as you read this.... The Voice of the Martyrs Canada has just received news that three Christian families were attacked in a Rohingya refugee camp this past week.
A Christian convert from Islam, who had been imprisoned for more than two years, was released on bail recently. Sisir Islam became a believer in 2012 and immediately began sharing Jesus with others in his community, leading 17 friends to Christ.
On September 23rd, 2014, after returning home from a VOM-supported training centre, Sisir was charged with the murder of a local business man. He later learned that Muslim leaders in his village had accused him of the murder as retribution for his conversion to Christianity.