“Pray that I remain faithful” – resilience amidst resistance in Bangladesh

Two Christians in Bangladesh are clinging to Jesus amidst sustained pressure to renounce their trust in Jesus, but they need your prayers to keep persevering in their faith and witness.

A Christian in Bangladesh says he ‘cannot turn away from the One who saved me’, despite relentless pressure to renounce his faith, including separation from his family.

Anis* has been a believer for ten years, having converted from a Muslim background. He serves as a local evangelist through the ministry of a local partner. Over the years, he and his family have encountered various forms of opposition for their faith.

The hostility has intensified in recent weeks after a group of local Islamic extremists came to Anis’ home and confronted him about his faith. He was later called to a meeting with local leaders. Despite intense pressure to renounce his faith, he stood firm, but it put him in imminent danger, forcing him to flee.

“I could not deny the Lord. I could not turn away from the One who saved me,” Anis shares. “I knew that staying there was no longer safe, but leaving my home and family was extremely painful. I know that God is watching over my family under His wings, and even my ten-year-old son has a faith that will not be shaken by any storm.

“Yet as a father, my heart is in great pain because I cannot be with them during this difficult time. I also know that our Father in Heaven sees everything that is happening. He is watching over us, and I trust that He has not forgotten my family in this difficult time.”

Unable to return to his village, Anis is currently staying in town with another believer, but there isn’t enough room for his family. His wife and son are instead staying at his father-in-law’s house. 

Father forced to sign paper

The situation further escalated when local Muslim leaders visited Anis’ elderly father. They forced him to sign a blank sheet of paper and warned him that, if he supported his son or allowed him to return to the village, the entire family would be expelled.

There is also growing concern for the wider community of believers in the area. An Islamic leader in Dhaka is believed to hold a list containing the names of believers from Anis’ region, raising fears that other believers are at risk.

“The situation is very serious,” shares a local ministry leader. “Anis has been forced to leave his home, his family has been separated, and his father has been pressured into signing a blank paper. We are trying to help him find a safe place and make wise decisions. He and his family urgently need prayer, protection and practical support.”

Anis is looking for a rental house in the town where he is currently staying. If he can secure this, he hopes to have a safe place for his family to live.

“I could never deny Christ”

In a separate incident, an evangelist who has had to pause outreach activities following a village meeting said he was ‘happy it took place because now almost everyone in the village knows there is someone called Jesus’.

Ripon*, who lives in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in south east Bangladesh, was the first person in his family to become a Christian after giving his life to Jesus three years ago. His parents, wife and sister have also since become believers.

However, coming from a Buddhist-majority indigenous tribe that is strongly committed to preserving its religious identity, locals took unkindly to his faith. When Ripon refused to renounce his faith, they turned their attention to his father.

“When they pressured my father, he came to me and said that, if I did not renounce Christ, he would kill himself, and I would have to walk over his body to leave the house,” shares Ripon. “Hearing those words broke my heart. But God gave me the courage to tell my father that I could never deny Christ. At the same time, I told him that I would never leave him, because the Bible teaches me to honour my parents.”

Today, Ripon smiles as he remembers how God has transformed his father’s heart. “I would say my father is an even better believer than I am. He encourages me to attend church regularly, and whenever I travel for ministry or seminars, he lovingly takes care of my two daughters.”

​Although his family has changed, the persecution from the surrounding community has never stopped.

Picnic brings persecution

With another local evangelist, Ripon has been actively sharing the gospel, especially among young people in the hills. Rather than holding formal meetings, they organise what they call “The Picnic of John”. ​Young people gather to cook, eat, read through the Gospel of John, discuss its message and pray.

As the gatherings have grown in number and impact, so has opposition. Last month, Buddhist leaders, village elders and community authorities gathered for a village meeting, during which Ripon was again pressured to renounce his faith and warned against organising further activities. Again, Ripon stood firm.

Despite the hostility, Ripon views the situation positively. “I was happy that the meeting took place, because now almost everyone in the village knows there is someone called Jesus. They may not know Him yet, but at least they have heard His name. I believe this will make it easier for me to speak with them about Him in the future.”

However, Ripon and the other evangelists have decided to pause outreach activities for a few weeks to reduce tensions in the village. They continue meeting for prayer and worship while waiting for the right opportunity to resume their ministry.

“God has always been faithful to me,” says Ripon, who is receiving prayer and pastoral support from local partners. “He has given me a vision and a burden for the people He has called me to serve. Please pray that I will remain faithful to that calling and that many thirsty souls will come to know Jesus Christ.”

*Names changed for security reasons