Politically Bangladesh has suffered a lot during the past 6 months. Earlier in 2024 a student led uprising resulted in the outlawing of anybody associated with the government that had been in power for over a decade. A number of vital governmental functions, such as the police force, were dismantled. This led to a level of anarchy across the country. An interim government is now installed until there can be elections, which are expected to be a year away. Many have been killed during riots and unrest, and in some parts of the country people live in fear.
The Australian Government has advised its citizens not to visit stating: “We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest, demonstrations and terrorism. The situation remains volatile, with an ongoing risk of protests and demonstrations across Bangladesh and a heightened risk of civil unrest and disorder.” On this advice all visits by fieldworkers have been suspended. The planned Bible School and other activities have been cancelled until things are more stable. The recent Bible School was held virtually using Zoom. This was arranged with a series of talks and two ecclesias gathered in their own meeting places with speakers joining from Australia.
Some members have suffered severely with floods, and this is compounded by the turmoil in the country. Prices of food and opportunity to work have been affected. The Christadelphians in Bangladesh are registered with the government to allow money to be transferred to Bangladesh for support of the ecclesias. This is managed through a Trust, involving 5 brethren (Trustees) chosen by the ACBM. The Trust’s main function is to manage the banking and flow of money and to coordinate combined functions of ecclesias.
A small ecclesia is developing in the rural district of Radhagonj. This has recently become more accessible with the completion of a new bridge. It is now a one-day trip from Dhaka. The activities are mainly centred on a small Sunday School run by Bro Albert and Sis Songita who are both teachers. There are several other brothers and sisters spread widely in this area, and they meet together when possible.
In Baridhara the central ecclesia in Dhaka, a brother has recently died because of a genetic heart deformity. His health and capabilities had been gradually declining. He leaves a wife and two teenage daughters (the elder one baptised). In Mymensingh a young brother badly injured his leg and will have his activity restricted for some months. The ongoing support for these families becomes quite a burden on the ecclesias because of the loss of household income.
Open preaching is limited in this Muslim country, but amongst families and friends our teaching continues with First Principles classes. There have been several baptisms in the past year.
