Death threats and destruction for believers in ongoing unrest in Bangladesh

Pastor Sirajul in Bangladesh was asleep when the knock came at his door. It was 10pm on 25 September, and Pastor Sirajul wasn’t expecting any visitors.

​​“Why are you knocking on my door this late at night?” he asked, when he opened the door and saw a group of about 30 people standing there. “Everyone is sleeping.”

“We want Sirajul,” they said. “He must come with us.”
 

Christians targeted by extremists

Pastor Sirajul is a convert from Islam, and local Muslim extremists have been targeting Christians from a Muslim background. Recent unrest in Bangladesh has exacerbated this persecution, with Christians among the vulnerable minorities who have seen an escalation in unwanted attention. In Sirajul’s region, these Muslim extremists have a tactic: they invite Christians to come to the mosque for prayers, to expose those who have left Islam.

  Earlier that day, around 2pm, some Muslim religious leaders had approached Pastor Sirajul and invited him to Namaz, an Islamic prayer. At the time, they had seemed friendly. Pastor Sirajul respectfully declined and went on his way. He did not expect this malicious consequence. 

Pastor Sirajul refused to go with the people on his doorstep. “Why do you want me? Where will I go with you at this hour?” he said. “We don’t have any business with you. Please go away and do not disturb us at night.” 

​Immediately the group lashed out and one of them yelled, “If you do not come with us wherever we want you to come, we will kill you, understand?”
 

“They are plotting to attack me”

​Pastor Sirajul’s wife and children heard the threat, and were terrified. “When my daughter and son heard the man saying he would kill me, they started crying,” he says. “My wife started shouting at the group and this made other neighbours come out of their homes and towards us.”

​With multiple witnesses approaching the scene, the group left them alone. But, while leaving, one of them shouted a final death threat – saying it could come ‘any place, any time’.
​“If the villagers hadn’t come out, then the perpetrators would’ve abducted me and killed me,” says Pastor Sirajul. “I felt very unprotected. Today, I got a warning message from someone I know who said they – the group of Muslim extremists – are plotting to attack me.”
 

​Open Doors partners exploring how to help

​“After the incidents, the family phoned us and asked us to pray for their safety and protection. We have been praying for them,” says a local Open Doors partner, “We are looking into the situation and keeping regular contact with the family. We are prepared to offer any emergency support.”

​After reporting the incident to the police, thankfully the officers spoke to local religious leaders and the perpetrators were rebuked. A few nights later, the perpetrators came to Pastor Sirajul’s house again – this time to apologise for what they’d done. Please pray for continuing peace between communities.
 

Tapon’s home and business destroyed

Across some regions of Bangladesh, threats, attacks and vandalism are growing more common ever since the political and social unrest began in early August. In one instance, a Christian family in western Bangladesh had their home and shop destroyed by a mob of extremists. Tapon has lived in the village his whole life – indeed, he comes from a line of several generations of Christians who’ve lived in the community. His brother is a ministry leader in the area. Though they have not converted from Islam – like many who are most vulnerable to persecution – the family were still brutally targeted on the night that nationwide unrest began.

Tapon, his wife, three children and elderly father were at home when a mob of 20-25 extremists, armed with weapons, advancing on their house. In fear for their lives, Tapon and his family fled, abandoning everything they had worked so hard to build. The attackers destroyed everything in their path, looting Tapon’s shop and leaving nothing behind.
 

Ransom demands

For four days, they hid nearby. But the extremists discovered their location and demanded a ransom of 100,000 Bangaldeshi taka (£640) to spare their lives – that’s the equivalent of eight months’ salary at minimum wage. With the help of villagers, Tapon and his family were eventually rescued.

  Even after returning to their ruined home and shop, the family have continued to receive threats – and are forbidden from using the only local source of water. Despite the devastation, Tapon’s family remain steadfast in their faith, relying on God’s protection amidst ongoing persecution.

“The attacks on us cannot be undone, but pray for the safety and security of other believers, who live in constant fear and some of whom are unable to work,” says Tapon.
 

Open Doors partners helping Tapon’s family

Open Doors local partners stepped in to help with emergency support immediately after the attack and since then have been staying in contact with the believers.

“They are doing well physically but mentally, they’re frustrated, crippled with fear and tension,” says a local partner, “It will take time to go back to a normal life like before.”
He adds, “We are in the process to support him to repair his house and the shop so that he can restart his business again and live in his home safely. We will start the rebuilding process within the next month.”

Please keep praying for Tapon, Sirajul and their families, and for all who are vulnerable in Bangladesh.