Bangladesh: Treatment of Muslims who have converted to Christianity; whether Muslim extremists force them to reconvert to Islam; and any state protection available to Christians (since 1997)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD31745.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Treatment of Muslims who have converted to Christianity; whether Muslim extremists force them to reconvert to Islam; and any state protection available to Christians (since 1997), 1 May 1999, BGD31745.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba338.html [accessed 18 May 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. |
Between 85 and 88 per cent of Bangladesh's population is Muslim (Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 113, Country Reports Apr. 1999, 1869; ASK/BLAST/Odhikar 1997, 41), with the majority of Muslims following the Sunni branch of Islam (ibid.; Baxter and Rahman 1996, 5; The New Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 594). The Hindu community, the largest religious minority, is approximately 10 per cent of the population, with Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and tribal animists making up the rest (Baxter and Rahman 1996, 4; The New Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 594; Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 114)
The 1992 edition of Encyclopedia of the Third World states that
In predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, conversion from one religion to another is permitted. Proselytizing by citizens is allowed under Article 41 of the Constitution, subject to law, public order and morality. Proselytizing is largely directed toward minority groups such as Hindus and tribals. There is strong social resistance against efforts to convert persons from the majority Muslim community. Certain Islamic organizations have voiced concern over Christian missionary activities and the conversion of Muslims to Christianity (1992, 114).
Country Reports states that although the Constitution makes Islam the official religion, citizens have the right to practise the religion of one's choice, and the government respects this right in practice (1998, 1621; Apr. 1999, 1869). Country Reports further adds that
the law permits citizens to proselytize. However , strong social resistance to conversion from Islam means that many of the missionary efforts by non-Muslims are aimed at Hindus and tribal groups. The Government allows various religions to establish places of worship, train clergy, travel for religious purposes, and maintain links with coreligionists abroad. Foreign missionaries may work in Bangladesh, but their right to proselytize is not protected by the Constitution, and some missionaries face problems obtaining visas (ibid.; 1998, 1621).
Furthermore, Encyclopedia of the Third World states that "Present and preceding governments have all pledged to Hindu, Buddhist and Christian minorities ... equality of treatment and freedom of worship" (1992, 114). The secular Constitution "guarantees the religious rights of all minorities" (ibid.).
No information on the treatment of Muslims who have converted to Christianity, on whether Muslim extremists force them to recovert to Islam, and any state protection available to Christians could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
For information on state protection, please consult the Research Directorate's September 1998 Issue paper entitled Bangladesh: State Protection.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)/Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)/Odhikar. 1997. Human Rights in Bangladesh 1996. Dhaka: The University Press Ltd.
Baxter, Craig and Syedur Rahman. 1996. 2nd ed. Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh. Lanham, Md: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. April 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. Vol. 1. 4th ed. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. NY: Facts on File.
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1989. Vol. 14. Edited by Philip W. Goetz et al. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Additional Sources Consulted
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)/Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)/Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA)/Odhikar. 1998. Human Rights in Bangladesh 1997. Dhaka: The University Press Ltd.
Amnesty International Report. Yearly. 1997, 1998.
Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. Monthly. January 1997-December 1998.
Bangladesh: A Travel Survival Kit. June 1996.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. January 1997. Statistical Pocketbook of Bangladesh 1996.
Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB), Dhaka. 1997. State of Human Rights in Bangladesh 1996.
The Europa World Year Book 1998. 1998.
Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly. December 1997, December 1998.
Research Directorate. January 1999. Human Rights Information Package: Pakistan: Supplement.
_____. July 1998. Human Rights Information Package: Pakistan.
_____. July 1998. Contextual Information Package: Pakistan.
Resource Centre. "Amnesty International: Bangladesh" country file. January 1997-present.
_____. "Bangladesh" country file. January 1998-present.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases.
