Christians in Bangladesh are praying for their safety a year after the country's Prime Minister was ousted.
Since the resignation of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, more radical, anti-Christian factions have been emerging and the persecution watchdog Open Doors says there are fears the next elections could lead to a further clamp down on religious freedom.
The nationwide wave of violence which followed the Prime Minister’s departure has seen targeted attacks on Christians with Open Doors sources recording over 100 families pressured to renounce their faith.
Partners on the ground also reported 36 verified cases of direct attacks on Christians and their properties and many Christians have been forced into hiding for fear of their lives.
Rajon*, an Open Doors partner in Bangladesh, said: “Changes in political power can often result in attacks on religious minorities and the confiscation of their property.
“Some Muslim leaders are portraying Christians as enemies and promoting the idea of establishing a 100 per cent Islamic state.
“This agenda includes converting Christians back to Islam and targeting church leaders and families to instil fear and pressure them to renounce their faith.”
Megan Titley from Open Doors told Premier:
“Over the last year, many Christians have gone into hiding having received death threats. So there is a real sense of fear at the moment, particularly Christians in northern or western parts of Bangladesh, in the more rural areas, and also in the Chittagong Hill tracks.
“Last Christmas, 17 homes of Christians in just in one village in the Chittagong Hill tracks were burnt down and so Christians are fearful and very concerned and really praying about the direction that their country is going in.
“There are elections due between December this year and summer next year, and they're watching closely and praying fervently about what's next for the country.”
With Islamist factions and conservative groups filling the power vacuum, concerns about governance and minority rights have deepened.
Open Doors says religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, remain vulnerable amid these dynamics and there have also been reports of mob violence forced conversions, and vandalism of places of worship, often fuelled by radical Islamist propaganda.
Despite registering the attacks with police, many Christians have not received legal assistance from local authorities.
Open Doors is calling on the International Community to urge the Government of Bangladesh to uphold the rule of law by prosecuting perpetrators of violence against religious minorities in a fair and transparent manner.
Megan Titley said Christians are praying that the existing constitution which enshrines some religious freedom into law, won’t change as it would lead to “a diminishing of their freedoms.”
Bangladesh is ranked at number 24 on Open Doors World Watch List, annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.