Christians in Bangladesh say they are living in fear after two homemade bomb attacks targeted a Catholic cathedral and a Church-run school in Dhaka last week.
Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the explosions at St Mary’s Cathedral and St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School and College, according to the Catholic News Agency (CNA).
The first device went off late on Friday night near St Mary’s Cathedral. Officers later found a second unexploded device on the cathedral grounds. The following day, another homemade bomb exploded inside the compound of St Joseph’s School in Mohammadpur, close to several religious communities and the offices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).
No injuries were reported in either incident. The Catholic Herald noted that about 500 worshippers still attended the cathedral’s early morning Mass the next day.
Father Bulbul Rebeiro, secretary for social communications at the CBCB, said the repeated attacks had left Catholics anxious. “The throwing of cocktails at the church again in a month has worried our Catholic community,” he said, adding that Church leaders were urging authorities to identify the motive and bring those responsible to justice.
At a press conference on 8 November, Father Rebeiro also called on the government to ensure that Christians can attend worship safely. “We are very few in number; we are peace-loving people,” he said. “But these incidents are frightening us.”
Police are questioning the arrested suspect in connection with other recent incidents, CNA reported. Investigators have said the man is linked to the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. Media reports say the group has been accused in the past of involvement in political violence during former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s time in office.
Open Doors, which ranks Bangladesh 24th on its World Watch List for Christian persecution, says that unrest following political protests in August 2024 created opportunities for radical groups to target Christians. The organisation notes that converts from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other faiths face particular pressure, including threats, violence and discrimination. Traditional churches, including the Catholic Church, have also experienced attacks and intimidation.
Following last week’s explosions, police have increased security at churches and other religious sites across Dhaka. CNA reports that officers are working with the Rapid Action Battalion in a wider search for possible accomplices.
The two recent attacks came only a month after a bomb was thrown at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on 8 October. That device exploded at the church gate. No group has claimed responsibility for any of the incidents, but the Bangladesh Christian Association told CNA that the timing suggests they may be linked.
Adapted from The Christian Post.
