Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August 2024, Christian communities in Bangladesh are being relentlessly persecuted and threatened. Death threats are delivered to church leaders, local pastors, and evangelists almost every day. Believers are struggling to live normally with increasing danger to their families and themselves.
Fearing for their safety, several believers have gone into hiding. Muslim background believers and ministers among them face great danger from radical Islamists that are threatening their lives.
The Death Letter
On 26 January 2025, local church leaders received a death threat in the form of a letter. This has created panic and fear in the Christian community.
The letter, translated, says:
Pobon* (a local church leader), on behalf of “Bangladesh Chatra Shibir” (a student wing of the Islamic Political Party), I am inviting you to come under the flag of Islam, the religion of peace, rejecting Christianity and accept Islam.
Over the years, our people have warned many Christian clergy and priests, but they did not listen to us, now we are forced to act. At the same time, we have come to know through our trusted companion that you have been collecting a foreign-donor fund to do your activities.
Over the last 15 years, more than forty thousand (40,000) Muslims brothers and sisters have converted to Christianity. I also came to know that there is a sign of cross in front of your motorcycle.
In this area, you are leading Jafor * to convert people. With the help of four organisations, we have made a list who have converted our people, luring them in with money. We will judge you, inshallah (if Allah wills).
How long will the Bangladesh administration (law enforcement) be your guard? Donald Trump of America cannot protect you. Get ready–we want your heads. Sumon* (a denomination leader) is hiding under the army’s protection. In the next three months, we will collect the heads of 68 Christian priests, inshallah (if Allah wills).
*Names changed for security purposes
Believers Facing Financial Crisis
With breadwinners unable to work while in hiding, daily wages have stopped and many Christian families, including those from Muslim backgrounds, are facing financial crisis.
“We have been working with these people closely for many years now,” says an Open Doors’ local partner. “We are working hard to support them spiritually, emotionally, and with basic and emergency supplies so that the families will be able to survive. We are even facing persecution by supporting these brothers and sisters because local Muslims are spying on Christian families and interrogating any person who visits their houses. They need our prayers.”
Pray for Bangladesh
- Pray for the persecution, pressure, and oppression to stop.
- Pray for God to protect local church leaders, pastors, evangelists and their families.
- Pray for local extreme Islamists that God will open their hearts to know Him.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
