A Catholic cathedral and school in Dhaka, Bangladesh have been targeted in what church leaders described as a “terrifying” act of anti-Christian violence.
A crude bomb exploded outside St Mary’s Cathedral on the 7th November, while another device was thrown at St Joseph’s School and College, around five kilometres away. No one was injured, but the attacks have shaken the city’s Christian minority according to local media.
Fr Albert Rozario of St. Mary's Cathedral told Asia News: “Around 600 guests from various churches across the country were expected to attend the programme in the morning. But at the night, a Molotov cocktail explosion occurred in front of the cathedral”.
“Police have already visited the site, and we will take legal action regarding the attack”, he added.
Mazharul Islam, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told reporters that investigations indicate that two homemade bombs were hurled at the church; one exploded, the other did not.
The incident followed a similar attack on 8th October, when a bomb was hurled at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the country’s oldest Christian site. A man linked to the Awami League, one of Bangladesh’s main political parties, was later arrested in connection with that bombing.
Bangladesh’s Catholic community, which numbers around 400,000 members, has generally lived peacefully side by side with the Muslim majority.
However, Bangladesh has faced growing unrest since the July Revolution last year, which left an estimated 1,400 people dead and forced the resignation of former leader Sheikh Hasina.
A temporary government led by laureate Muhammad Yunus has ruled since 8th August, but Christians say it has failed to protect them.