Bangladesh: Information on the work and activities of Christian missionaries in Bangladesh, in particular the Southern Baptist Convention missionaries, and the attitude of the Bangladesh government toward Christian missionaries in Bangladesh
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD9133 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Information on the work and activities of Christian missionaries in Bangladesh, in particular the Southern Baptist Convention missionaries, and the attitude of the Bangladesh government toward Christian missionaries in Bangladesh, 1 July 1991, BGD9133, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acfd2c.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The U.S. government's country study on Bangladesh, which includes research carried out until September 1988, states that in the late 1980's, "the government was not imposing any restrictions on the legitimate religious activities of the [Christian] missions and the [Christian] communities" (Heitzman and Worden 1989, 83-84).
This was confirmed by a representative of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States. In a telephone conversation on 24 July 1991, he stated that the missionaries carry out their religious activities in collaboration with local churches and, as far as he was aware, they were not unduly hindered by the Bangladesh government. He said that they probably have less freedom than in the U.S., but that this is part and parcel of the general situation in Bangladesh, and not the result of any particular discrimination against his church. According to him, the missionaries of this church in Bangladesh are involved not only in religious work, but also, and to an even greater extent, in development activities in fields such as farming, well drilling, etc. After the recent cyclone, they provided aid in the form of food and helped rebuild houses (Foreign Mission of the Southern Baptist Convention 25 July 1991).
The Europa World Year Book 1990 states that a 1988 amendment to the constitution of Bangladesh made Islam the state religion. (Europa 1990 1990, 1:441). Information on whether this has had any impact on Christian missionaries is not currently available to the IRBDC.
Bibliography
The Europa World Year Book 1990. 1990. Vol. I. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
Foreign Mission of the Southern Baptist Convention, U.S.A. 25 July 1991. Telephone Conversation with a Representative.
Heitzman, James and Robert L. Worden, eds. 1989. Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress.
Attachments
The Europa World Year Book 1990. 1990. Vol. I. London: Europa Publications Ltd. P. 441.
Heitzman, James and Robert L. Worden, eds. 1989. Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. Pp. 83-84.
