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Bangladesh

• Church Faces Ongoing Oppression

  

  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.

• Rohingya Christians Deal with Aftermath 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.

• Urgent Prayer Needed!

  

  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.

   

• Christian Convert Released from Prison

  

  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.

• Christian Killed in Violent Attack

  A 60-year-old Christian businessman in Bangladesh has been killed in a violent attack, and the terrorist organization Islamic State has claimed responsibility for his death. Shunil Gomez of Boraigram region in the northern district of Natore died on Sunday, June 5th, after receiving three deep gashes on the back of his neck. According to police inspector Inam Ahmed, the attack bore similarities to previous local fatalities perpetrated by militants.

  In the past seven months, at least six people have died in violent incidents within the region. Attacks have targeted Christian pastors and Hindu temples, as well as mosques belonging to the Shia minority. "For many years, in the Muslim-majority nation of Bangladesh, Christians were relatively free to practise their religion," reports a VOMC correspondent in Bangladesh.

  The correspondent explains why there has been a dramatic increase in persecution: "Two years ago this began to change, and now a small minority of radical Islamists are having a big impact upon religious freedom by targeting well-known leaders and secular bloggers for assassination. Our VOM partners are taking new precautions, but they are still finding ways to share the Gospel and disciple new believers without drawing attention to themselves." Learn more by reviewing the Bangladesh Country Report.

  Thank you for lifting up Shunil Gomez's family, praying that they will tangibly sense the loving comfort of our Lord Jesus as they grieve during this difficult time. Ask Him to protect our VOM ministry partners and all the other Christian believers in Bangladesh. May they be filled with wisdom and power as they continue to obey the Great Commission despite the threat of persecution.

• Pastors Arrested for ''Hurting Religious Sentiments''

  Some of those detained await release at the police station. Morning Star News

  Two pastors could potentially be facing two years in prison after more than 100 militant Islamists interrupted a meeting in which 41 people, including Muslims, were listening to the message of Christ being preached.

• Believers Ordered to Stop Christian Activities

  Construction of the Tangail Evangelical Holiness Church in Bilbathuagani village was brought to a halt in September. Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Just months after the construction of a church building had been ordered to cease, a "committee" was formed to stop all Christian activity in Bilbathuagani village, Tangail. The committee is made up of political leaders, Muslim elders, and an elected local government official.

• Missing Christian children found in radical madrasas

  Children from Christian homes were taken to madrasas in Bangladesh Photo: Nikolaus / Wikimedia Commons

  80 children from Christian homes in Bangladesh were taken under false pretences by mullahs (Islamic clerics) to various madrasas (Islamic boarding schools). Attempts were made to forcibly convert them to Islam. Eleven of the children have been rescued, while the whereabouts of the remaining 69 are unknown.

  The children come from the Chittagong Hills of Eastern Bangladesh where their Christian faith makes them a minority and the target of overt discrimination. In January and February, the Christian parents each paid 15,000 BDT (roughly $182 CDN ) to individuals who promised to house and educate their children in nearby cities. A quality education in the Chittagong Hills is rare, and parents often do this as a way of providing a future for their children.

  Parents lost communication with their children almost immediately. After months of conducting their own search, they contacted Hotline Human Rights Trust (HHRT). According to the HHRT director, the rescued children recounted acts of physical abuse when they refused to pray, read the Qur'an, or learn Arabic. The children went on to explain that they attempted to escape after being told they would be forcibly circumcised.

  Thank the Lord for the children who have returned to their families and pray the missing children will be found soon. Ask the Lord to protect these children both physically and spiritually. May the Holy Spirit strengthen them through this ordeal. Pray the perpetrators will be brought to justice and the families in this area of Bangladesh will have other ways of providing an education for their children.

  For more information on persecution in Bangladesh, visit the Bangladesh Country Report.

• Christians cancel Christmas celebrations following threats

  Members of seven churches were prevented from gathering for Christmas worship in Khagrachari district, Bangladesh, following threats from a regional Buddhist political party. On December 19, members of The United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) called a meeting of 50 Buddhists and seven Christians, including a pastor. They threatened the Christians, saying that they would be in "great trouble if they celebrated Christmas in the village and or participate in any other Christian activities." The group members also warned the pastor not to take care of the congregation and ordered him to go back to his previous religion, Buddhism. Members of the UPDF also threatened Buddhist villagers, playing them off against the Christians by telling them that if the Christians celebrated their festival, non-Christian villagers would also be in trouble. Christian converts in the village have faced serious opposition in recent years. While many of them have stood strong in their faith, some have returned to Buddhism under compulsion.

  Pray these believers will trust in Christ, relying on the grace of their Saviour amid opposition. Pray the Lord will guard the hearts of believers facing pressure to deny Him. Pray Christians in Bangladesh will be strong witnesses for Jesus and that demonstrations of His love will help to draw others to faith in Him.

  You can find out more about Christians suffering for their faith in Bangladesh at the country report at theBangladesh Country Report.

• Christian charged despite thief's confession

  Photo from Compass Direct

  Police in Bangladesh's Nilphamari district have charged Christian day labourer Abul Hossen (41) with cattle theft despite a confession from the primary suspect, according to a defense attorney and a local official present in the courtroom. Police submitted the charge sheet against the convert from Islam on September 12, even though Sirajul Islam had confessed to the crime and testified on September 8 that Abul was not involved and that he did not know him.

  Abul has reported that when he was arrested on August 21, police inquired about his conversion to Christianity, questioned the religion of his wife and father, and asked whether Christians offered him money to convert. Local believers have said that influential Muslims had Abul accused in order to discredit his ministry. (Source: Compass Direct)

  Please pray the truth will come to light and that justice will be upheld in this case. Please pray for Abul and other Christians in the community, that they would be faithful and strong and that God would give them wisdom when dealing with the authorities.

  Visit theBangladesh Country Report to find out more about persecution in Bangladesh.