Bangladesh

Partner with Local Missionaries in Bangladesh

Located in the 10/40 Window

With more than 160 million inhabitants living in an area slightly smaller than Iowa, Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populous and densely populated countries. The South Asian country is bordered by India, Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh used to be part of Pakistan until a bitter civil war led to independence in 1971. The country declared Islam its official religion in 1988. Since then, the Bangladeshi government has taken the initiative to propagate Islam, providing financial assistance to mosques and organizing the training of imams. Today, 89% of the population is Muslim.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries, with nearly half of the population subsisting on less than one dollar per day. However, with the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh is making significant progress in economic growth, food production, and universal education. Almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector. Garments are the backbone of Bangladesh’s industrial sector.

The Christian population comprises an extremely small percentage of the population, less than a fraction of 1%, and faces persecution from Muslim communities and radical Muslim groups. Multiple Islamic terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS), have networks in Bangladesh. Many Christians meet in underground house churches. Believers who belong to ethnic minorities face the highest levels persecution, like those from the Rohingya refugee population, nearly 1 million of whom live in Bangladesh.

In the early 1800s, the English missionary William Carey ministered to the Bengali people and translated the New Testament into their language. Today, indigenous missionaries effectively continue the work of evangelism and discipleship. Christian Aid Mission assists multiple ministries that are working among the Bengali majority as well as many ethnic minority groups. Missionary support is their greatest need, along with funding for discipleship and training programs, which are desperately needed to ensure new believers are grounded in God’s Word.

These ministries are also engaged in compassionate outreach, including providing education to poor Muslim and Christian children, running feeding centers that provide nourishment to hundreds of children, and sheltering orphaned or abandoned children.

Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook

174 million

Population

Unknown

Evangelical Population:

299

People Groups:

276

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Bangladesh

Pray that God would pour out His spirit on the people of Bangladesh to open blind eyes to the truth.
Pray that people battered by poverty and discrimination would be healed, strengthened and redeemed by Christ’s love.
Pray for protection and provision for brave believers and indigenous missionaries risking everything to share the hope of the gospel in this difficult mission field.

More stories from Bangladesh

Encourage New Believers to Remain Steadfast in Bangladesh

A young man from a Buddhist family had grown increasingly wary of the religious practices of his parents, including their animal sacrifices and idol worship. When he connected with native missionaries, he became intrigued by the gospel stories they told and began to regularly listen to their sermons. “I have come to know from the Bible that only Jesus Christ has the power to save me from my sin and only Jesus Christ can give eternal life,” he said. The young man gave his life to the Lord and was baptized. Donations of $25 or $50 support missionaries’ evangelism efforts. Pray that new believers will remain steadfast in their faith.

Bring The Gospel To Remote Places in Bangladesh

At the invitation of a village leader, two pastors agreed to visit his village, which sits 90 miles from where they live. They journeyed first by bus and then on foot, walking 25 miles to reach their destination. The people were eager to hear the gospel, and 54 were baptized that day. Because of the joyful response to their visit, the pastors decided not only to begin construction of a church building there, but to also send a missionary to stay so the people would have a church leader. Donations of $25 or $50 enable missionaries to minister in remote communities such as this. Pray for hearts to be open to the gospel message.

Support Ministry To Unreached Tribes in Bangladesh

Because of native missionaries’ diligent evangelism efforts to previously unreached indigenous tribes, approximately 1,940 people from various tribal villages were baptized during a six-month period. In addition to sharing the gospel, these Christian workers also taught the people about proper hygiene, and they distributed food among the most vulnerable families. “We have seen that the lives of the people have been improving since the missionaries started working,” the ministry leader said. “They have been interested to hear the word of God and to go to church.” Donations of $25 or $50 are needed for such outreach. Pray for new believers’ faith to be a testimony to the lost.

Reach Indigenous Tribes With The Gospel in Bangladesh

Missionaries from a native ministry have worked tirelessly among eight indigenous tribes, sharing the gospel and baptizing 1,940 people during a six-month period. Their work has had a transformative effect on many villages as people put their faith in Christ. “We have seen that the lives of people have been improving since the missionaries started working,” the ministry leader said. “Many have given up drinking wine and doing bad things. They have been interested to hear the word of God and go to church.” Donations of $60 or $120 support missionaries’ evangelism efforts. Pray their work will continue to expand the Lord’s kingdom.

Distribute Life-Saving Resources in Bangladesh

Pray the Lord will meet people’s needs in difficult circumstances. Families from several mountain villages have been forced to leave their homes in search of food and a way to better afford their expenses. Many of them have settled in a village in which a local ministry works, and missionaries helped 50 families over a six-month period through the distribution of rice, oil, blankets, salt, and Bibles. “We have been working fervently as a ministry among the unreached people,” the ministry leader said. Your donations of $35 or $70 help provide basic necessities to vulnerable people.

Support Unprotected and Persecuted Believers in Bangladesh

Pray the Lord will protect believers in places where it is dangerous to follow Him. A local missionary received word that people in his community planned to damage or possibly burn down the church building as well as his home, and the ministry was uncertain whether officials would protect him. The threats are part of an increasing number of attacks on minorities—including Christians—due to intense unrest within the country’s government. “Please pray to the Lord for their safety because only He is our refuge,” the ministry leader said. Donations support missionaries who serve in dangerous places.