In Bangladesh, Christian converts come from a Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu background. They face the most pressure from family and community, as well as from Islamic extremist groups and religious leaders.

Pastors often receive death threats and believers can be denied access to resources within the community. Christians can also be forced into marriages or giving up their businesses in order to pressure them to deny Jesus. Christian children are even persecuted at school and are mocked by their school teachers for their faith.

As demands to introduce Sharia (Islamic) law in Bangladesh increase, Christians are regularly monitored and treated with hostility, especially those who have converted from Islam. Christian converts are often forced to meet in secret and it can be dangerous to even own a Bible.

What changed this year?

At number 31 on the 2021 World Watch List, Bangladesh has risen by two spots primarily because of slight increases in many areas of persecution. In many aspects of daily life, pressure has tightened for Bangladeshi Christians, and they experience discrimination and persecution. There have been violent attacks against Christians in 2020, as well. In the spring, there was a violent incident against the tiny Christian community among the Rohingya refugee community that fled Myanmar for Bangladesh. There has also been better reporting, particularly in rural areas, which show how much pressure in church life has increased. Finally, in many anecdotal situations, Christians were left out of COVID-19 government relief, often facing starvation or severe health issues.   

HOW WE HELP

In Bangladesh, Open Doors works by equipping and training Christians and Christian leaders. There’s a particular focus on training new leaders and Christians who have converted from Islam—the latter are also particularly trained in how to prepare for persecution, since converts from Islam are often targeted. Open Doors also provides Bibles and other Christian literature, especially in rural areas where Bibles might be difficult to afford or access.

Open Doors also helps train Christians in literacy and through socio-economic development, to better equip the church in Bangladesh to carry out the Great Commission. Finally, Open Doors responds to emergency needs—in 2020, this meant helping believers who were denied aid during the COVID-19 pandemic or who desperately needed urgent help after Cyclone Amphan.