Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of
Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to
dominate the region and it became part of British India. In
1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim)
separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new
country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955,
but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its
territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis
marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its
union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh.
About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually
during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.
Many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate
flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface
water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results
from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated
by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages
because of falling water tables in the northern and central
parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion;
deforestation; severe overpopulation
Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest nations.
Over half the population live below the poverty line. It is
massively over-populated and suffers from natural disasters like
flood and cyclones which kill thousands of people.
Although people are officially free to follow whatever religion
they choose, there is increasing Islamist pressure to restrict
this freedom. Over half the population is under 16
and most live in great poverty. As pressure from extreme Muslim
groups increases there has been persecution against
Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.
Pray for the people in Bangladesh. Pray that the church
growth will continue and that the Holy Spirit would
move deeper in peoples lives.
Over 230 million Bengali people live around the world.
They are by far the largest unreached people group in the world
and most live in Bangladesh and India. Pray that many more
Bengali would have an opportunity to hear about the gospel.
Over half the population cannot read. Pray that these people
will be able to hear the gospel through radio, the JESUS film
and other media.
Support
missionaries to evangelize their nation
|
