Christians inBangladesh (Bengali:বাংলাদেশী খৃষ্টধর্মী) account for 0.30% (roughly 488,583) of the nation's population. Together withBuddhism (and other minority groups such asAtheism,Sikhism, theBahá'í Faith and others),Christianity accounts for 1% of the population.Islam accounts for 91.08% of the country's population, followed byHinduism at 7.96% according to the 2022 census.[1]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 107,000 | — |
| 1961 | 149,000 | +39.3% |
| 1974 | 215,919 | +44.9% |
| 1981 | 274,481 | +27.1% |
| 1991 | 346,062 | +26.1% |
| 2001 | 388,855 | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 447,009 | +15.0% |
| 2022 | 488,583 | +9.3% |
| Source: Bangladesh government census authority[2][3] | ||
The introduction and development of Christianity in theIndian subcontinent can be traced back to several periods, with the help of several countries and denominations. The earliest connection to Christianity can be linked back to the arrival of theApostle Thomas to theMalabar Coast during the first century, in 52 A.D.[4] In addition, the Apostle had managed to convert several thousands of Hindu Brahmins, as they were "attracted" to the lifestyle and were "impressed" by Jesus' sacrifice.[5]
Christianity did not have a presence in Bangladesh until the arrival of the Portuguese in 1510 with individuals likeAlfonso de Albuquerque[5] and Portuguese missionaries.[6][7] Albuquerque attempted to spread Christianity by encouraging inter-marriage with native Bengali women, therefore their descendants were the first generations of Christians. By 1514, the Portuguese had obtained the right to preach Christianity in Bengal, thanks to the agreement between the Catholic Pope and the King of Portugal.[5]
In 1672, Dome Antonio da Rozari, a young Bengali convert, had managed to convert 20,000 low-caste and discriminated Hindus into Christianity.[5][8] Afterwards, between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Portuguese missionaries were evangelising and preaching in theBengali language. Soon on, evangelical books and Christian theology were being written in Bengali.[5]
In 1740, the first Protestant,Reverend John Zachariah Kiernander, arrived in Bangladesh. In 1770, he funded and built a Protestant church called "Mission Church" inWest Bengal.[5]
By the 18th century, British missionaries, such asWilliam Carey, had built more churches, translated the Bible and other Christian books, and had set up religious schools.[9] British missionaries had also developed Christian newspapers (such as "Digdarshan", "The Gospel Magazine", and "The Christian Mohila") in an effort to spread the gospel.[5]
In more recent times, the rise of Christianity in Bangladesh can be credited to Western NGOs and Christian charities,[10] who provided humanitarian work after theIndependence War in 1971.[11]
Since then, these NGOs and charities (seeContributions) have not only assisted with support for emergency relief, healthcare, and education in Bangladesh, but they have also encouraged the practice of reading the Bible.[5][12] Currently, it is estimated that there are approximately 17,000 to 23,000 NGOs in Bangladesh.[10]
The first church (in present-day Bangladesh) was officially inaugurated inJessore, erstwhile Chandecan (now Jessore). The church was named "The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus" and was built by the Jesuits, who were not only given permission, but also financial support and land by the King of Jessore.[13]
The second church was financially supported by the Arakanese King and was built by Andre Boves on 24 June 1600.[5] This church was built inChittagong and was called "St. John the Baptist Church".[5]
In 1601, the third church was built by Dominicans in the south-east ofChittagong. Eventually these churches were burnt down from attacks byArakanese buddhists.[5]
According to religious studies scholar Sufia M. Uddin,William Carey can be seen as "One of the most important early Christian missionary figures".[14] Carey had arrived in Bangladesh in 1773, where he was financially supported by the Baptist Missionary Society to carry out missionary work.[12] Carey believed his success as a missionary, was due to him learning the Bengali language and therefore being able to translate the gospel.[15]
In 1801, he was able to publish a translation ofThe New Testament, which was the first translation in any South Asian language. Carey then published a Bengali translation that same year and was also appointed as a professor atFort William College.[9] Carey, with the assistance of Joshua Marshman and William Ward createdSerampore College.[5]
Carey's colleagues and missionary team built a Bengali boys' school and by 1817, they were operating 45 boys' schools. As for girls, in 1818 they opened their first Bengali girls' school and by 1824, they were running 6 girls' schools.[9] These mission-run schools would often attract students with scholarships and accommodation.[11]
Carey also oversaw the works the Bible being translated into more than 34 Indian languages, while the missionaries wrote books and tracts favouring the Christian lifestyle. These books and tracts (such as "Prophet's Testimony of Christ", "God's Punishment of Sin", and "Krishna and Christ Compared") not only emphasised the benefits of Christian life, but reportedly condemned Hindu and Islamic beliefs.[16]
In 1822, Miss Mary Anne Cooke was one of the first English female missionaries. Prior to this in 1820, missionaryWilliam Ward had encouraged for English women to preach Christianity, in order to connect more with Bengali women. With help from the Christian Missionary Society, Cooke founded 15 girls' schools with around 300 students withinCalcutta and Bengal to educate females.[5]
Sister Argerita Bellasiny, Sister Brigida Janella, and Sister Agostina Bigo from Italy were called upon Father Marietti[who?] on 17 May 1868 to help with missionary outreach. The three would spread Christianity by going door to door, particularly focusing on poor and vulnerable widows.[5]
Father Francisco Fernandez was the first Bengali Christian martyr; he died on 14 November 1602.[8] He was murdered because he had attempted to save Christian women and children from being captured as slaves byArakaneseBuddhists.[8] He was detained, chained, tortured and beaten to death by Arakanese forces.[8]
According to 2022 census, Christianity is followed by 488,583 (0.3%) people in Bangladesh.[17] Bangladeshi Christians mainly belong toSantal,Garo,Khasi,Oraon,Bom,Khyang,Panko,Lushei and other tribes. SomeBengali Christians also live inDhaka,Gazipur,Chittagong,Barisal,Sylhet and surrounding areas.
Christians have greatly served the education and health sectors. This tiny community has some 1,000 schools and about 100 health care centers and hospitals. In Bangladesh, the Christian community runs the country's largest cooperative bank in Dhaka.[citation needed]
Having worked in Bangladesh as a missionary since 1952, FatherRichard William Timm,C.S.C. won theRamon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding, the Asian Nobel Prize, in 1987 in recognition of his work as a teacher, as a biologist studying plant-parasitic worms, and withCaritas on relief efforts.[19]
In the 1990s, many people opposed the aid of Christian NGOs, and therefore there was a spike in the number of protests and violence opposing the religious influence of Christian NGOs. Up to 52 NGOs were considered to be "anti-Islamic", with the intentions of "proselytising" the Islamic nation to Christianity, targeting the vulnerable; the outcasts, the uneducated, and the poor.[11]
With the rise of Islamic fundamentalist movements, Christians in Bangladesh often face the pressure fromIslamist terrorist groups due topersecution and harassment from the wider Muslim community. In 2019, several churches, such as Mohandi Assemblies of God church, were either burnt down or destroyed.[20] To be safe from such attacks and to prevent such incidents, Christians would gather in secret or in small houses to practice their religion.[20] Additionally, in 2020, it is alleged that several Christians were detained by police for "unlawful conversion".[20]
Conditions have improved in recent years as Bangladesh moved from place 35 on theWorld Watch List of Christian persecution in 2015 to place 48 in 2019. However, a rise of violence against Christians sent the country to number 30 on the list in 2023.[21] Persecution of Christians in Bangladesh has since intensified at the hands of radical Islamists and extremist Muslims.[22] In May 2024, Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina made allegations of a Christian plot to "carve out" an independent Christian country in Bangladesh and Myanmar.[23] TheArchbishop of Dhaka,Bejoy Nicephorus D'Cruze, categorically denied the allegations.[24]
In 2023, the country was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom;[25]
There are two Catholic archdioceses and six Catholicdioceses in Bangladesh with some 400,000 Catholics. Each diocese is led by its own local bishop. CardinalPatrick D'Rozario is the highest Catholic official.
The Archdiocese ofDhaka comprises:[8]
The archdiocese ofChittagong comprises:[8]
The diocese of Dhaka was created in 1952 and Rev. James D. Blair was assigned as the first Bishop (Markham, Hawkins IV, Terry & Steffensen, 2013). Following Blair, the first indigenousBishop of the Diocese of Dhaka was assigned to Rev. B.D. Mondal. By the late 1980s, it was decided that a second diocese was needed, and this was established inKusthia in 1990; a third diocese was established in 2017.[28]
TheNational Council of Churches in Bangladesh (or,Jatiya Church Parishad of Bangladesh;Bengali: জাতীয় চার্চ পরিষদ বাংলাদেশ,Translation:National Church Council Bangladesh) is a Christian ecumenical organization founded inBangladesh in 1949 as theEast Pakistan Christian Council.[29] The organization serves as a unifying platform for Christians of various denominations, working towards solidarity, cooperation, and the well-being of the Christian community in the context of Bangladesh's diverse religious landscape. It is a member of theWorld Council of Churches[30] and theChristian Conference of Asia. In 2002, it led public debate on the reform of Bangladeshipersonal law applied to Christians.[31][32]
There are 16 Christian theological institutions in Bangladesh:[33]
The Catholic weekly magazine,Weekly Pratibeshi(Bengali: সাপ্তাহিক প্রতিবেশী; Translation: Weekly Neighbourhood) was founded in 1941 asRanikhong Mission Chithi, a monthly parish bulletin. In the mid-1940s, it took its present name and moved to Dhaka from Mymensingh.[34] The magazine is one of the oldestBengali and Catholic newspapers.[35][36] In 2013,Pratibeshi launched an online news site with a focus on broad news coverage.[36]
Radio Veritas Asia began their Bengali service in 1980. It is jointly produced inDhaka andKolkata.[37]
The Catholic community have adopted the Hindu use of thesindhur.[38]
The ruling party in Bangladesh, the secular-leaning Awami League, has partnered with conservative Muslim clerics who routinely call for the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Country Studies.Federal Research Division.
