Bangladesh (MNN) — Elections in February and August this year brought greater political stability to Bangladesh after more than two years of an interim government in place. Now, Christians wait to see whether they’ll experience more protection. 

William Samaddar of FARMS International says chaos followed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s overthrow in August 2024. An interim government under Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus attempted to maintain order. However, “the Islamic radicalists, they grow, they spread it everywhere; they are mobbing. They are killing people. They burn out the police stations,” Samaddar says. 

In the immediate aftermath of Hasina’s ouster, hundreds of Islamists raided the property of a FARMS contact in Bangladesh, taking his employees hostage. (More on that story here.)

Young man in Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy of Tarikul Raana K/Unsplash)

Samaddar explains there is a multifront cost for those who become Christians in Bangladesh. 

“When a person comes to Christ, it [brings] not only persecution from their community. It’s also politically,” says Samaddar. “They’re not getting any loan, any financial support from the government and government organization because you changed your religion and Christianity is always a threat to the Bangladesh government.” 

FARMS works to see Christians build livelihoods that can overcome instability, whether that springs from political or environmental or personal crises. Samaddar oversees FARMS’ work with local churches in Bangladesh, helping people escape poverty through sustainable agriculture.

“We are working with them, and giving loans to small business owners: the farmers, the women raising cattle, pigs, goats, and even some are trying to do fishery,” he says. 

Find your place in the story. Ask the Lord to sustain work among indigenous people groups in Bangladesh, a majority-Muslim nation. Elections this year may have brought greater political stability, but mob rule is a very present strategy causing challenges, along with the pressure for the spread of Islam. 

“The government always feels the threat, that Christianity is, like, spreading. They’re sending Islamic people to establish the madrassas — the Islamic schools — and forcefully they are trying to convert [tribal] people. Prayer is the most important thing for us and the missions that we have in Bangladesh,” says Samaddar. 

Pray for soft hearts and open paths for people in Bangladesh to hear the good news of Christ. Pray for practical blessings, that business will be good for Christians so that they can provide for immediate needs and be generous to others with the rest. 

Learn more at FARMS International about how they empower Christians living in challenging parts of the world toward long-term stability. 

Header photo: Bangladesh: man standing beside boy (Photo courtesy of Kelly via Pexels)