Grenades on Christmas Eve and 2,673 Attacks: Bangladesh Christians Dare to Hope Under New Government

Bangladesh Christians See a Glimmer of Hope as New Government Promises Religious Freedom

Bangladesh's new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took office on February 17, 2026, after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide two thirds majority in the February 12 election. For the country's small but resilient Christian community, the change in leadership has sparked cautious optimism.

Just five days after taking power, Rahman's cabinet announced monthly allowances and festival stipends for religious clergy of all faiths, marking the first time in Bangladesh's history that such benefits extended to non Muslim leaders.

Rev. Albert Rozario, vicar general of Dhaka's Archdiocese, personally congratulated the government and called on Christians to pray that the administration would "govern the country beautifully, harmoniously, and fairly."

Rev. Asa Michael Kain, chairman of Bangladesh Assemblies of God, described the election as an "answer to the prayers of the church," citing the instability that preceded the vote.

The expectations from the churches for the new government is they will make good on their promises to allow freedom of religious practices and expressions to all. That our judicial system will be impartial and just. That corruption will be wiped out, especially from government institutions. Rev. Asa Michael Kain

However, not every leader embraced the gesture. Bishop Sebastian Tudu of Dinajpur declined church participation in the clergy stipend program, warning that "in the future there may be some kind of pressure from the government or politically."

Bishop Philip P. Adhikary, chairman of the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh, emphasized that constitutional promises must translate into practical safety, justice, and non discrimination for minority citizens.

Can Bangladesh's Christians Trust the New Government's Promises of Religious Freedom?

The optimism is tempered by recent violence. In late 2025, hand grenades struck Dhaka Cathedral and St. Joseph's School in November, and a bomb was thrown near the National Council of Churches on Christmas Eve.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 2,673 attacks on religious minorities between August 2024 and November 2025, including killings, sexual violence, and property destruction.

Adding to concerns, the Islamist party Jamaat e Islami won 68 parliamentary seats in the February 2026 election, its highest total ever, becoming the main opposition. The party had been banned under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but was unbanned in mid 2025.

Despite constitutional guarantees of equal rights, minorities continue to report persistent land disputes and prosecutions under laws criminalizing "religious hatred" and "hurting religious sentiment," language that rights groups warn enables suppression of legitimate religious expression.

An anonymous senior church figure described the mood as "cautious relief" rather than celebration, noting that the election itself was neither fully fair nor inclusive.

The Crusader's Opinion

Here we see it again. Christians in a Muslim majority nation being tossed crumbs from the table and told to be grateful. A stipend for pastors? That is not freedom. Freedom is worshiping without grenades flying through your church windows on Christmas Eve. Freedom is not having 2,673 attacks on your community in just over a year with zero accountability. The Islamists won 68 seats. Let that sink in. The same party that was banned for extremism now sits as the official opposition. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh, but we are not naive. Promises from politicians mean nothing without the power of Christ behind them. Stand firm, Church of Bangladesh. The world is watching, even if its governments are not.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for the Christians of Bangladesh, that the new government's promises of religious freedom would become reality and that the church would remain bold and unified.
• Support persecuted Christians in Bangladesh through Open Doors, which monitors and aids believers in restricted nations.
• Give to The Shepherd's Shield to support frontline ministry and protection efforts for persecuted Christians worldwide.
• Contact your representative and urge them to press Bangladesh on religious freedom protections. Find your representative at house.gov.
• Support Voice of the Martyrs in their work equipping and encouraging persecuted believers in South Asia.
• Share this story on social media to raise awareness. The more people who know, the harder it becomes for governments to ignore the suffering of Christians.