Fear has permeated the small Christian community in Bangladesh following a series of bomb attacks targeting places of worship and a Catholic school. Police officials confirmed that, while no injuries were reported, the attacks were undoubtedly intended to instill fear among the minority group.
Authorities have yet to determine if the three incidents are connected or independent of one another. Dhaka police spokesman Muhammad Talebur Rahman emphasized that they are clearly meant to terrify the community, which comprises approximately 500,000 individuals within the country’s 170 million population.
“This wave of violence comes amidst ongoing political turmoil that has engulfed Bangladesh since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government over a year ago,” Rahman noted. The timing of these attacks, which coincide with the approaching elections in February 2026, adds to the heightened tensions across the nation.
Local residents are feeling the impact of this climate of fear. A 25-year-old university graduate, choosing to remain anonymous, expressed the anxiety enveloping the community. “There’s an eerie feeling among many of us when attending church,” he remarked.
The first attack took place on October 8, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Bangladesh’s oldest church, established by Portuguese missionaries in the 17th century. Subsequently, on the night of October 13, two additional Catholic sites—St Mary’s Cathedral and St Joseph’s School and College—were targeted.
Nirmal Rozario, the president of the Bangladesh Christian Association, reported that a crude bomb exploded in front of St Mary’s Cathedral. He noted that despite the attack, approximately 500 congregants attended worship the following day. Police stated that attackers approached the cathedral on a motorbike and threw a bomb onto the school grounds before fleeing the scene.
Although the attacks have induced significant anxiety, Brother Chandan Benedict Gomes, principal of St Joseph’s, confirmed that classes continued as usual. “There’s concern among staff and students, but we are determined to maintain a sense of normalcy,” he stated.
In the broader political landscape, interim leader Muhammad Yunus, an 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has continually reassured citizens that the upcoming elections will proceed as scheduled despite incidents of violence. Major political factions recently launched their campaigns, which quickly escalated into chaos, including a shooting at a rally for the Bangladesh National Party.
In another effort to restore order, police have announced cash rewards for the return of more than 1,300 firearms that were taken during last year’s political unrest. As the situation develops, the Christian community and the wider population remain watchful and anxious in these turbulent times.
