Bangladesh stands on the cusp of its February 12 national elections, yet minority communities—Hindus, Christians, Buddhists—are engulfed in dread. A new report paints a grim picture of how radicalism and governance failures have amplified their sense of peril.
Forgotten Missionaries International’s Bruce Allen told Mission Network News that uncertainty defines daily life. The interim government under Muhammad Yunus has shown laxity toward surging extremism, sparking a vicious cycle of attacks, resentment, and price hikes. His stark assessment: “The whole situation has gone haywire.”
Elections offer hope, but dissatisfaction runs deep. Gen-Z activism is fracturing, evidenced by the National Citizen Party’s alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, mired in past scandals.
Al minorities feel this most intensely. With radicals emboldened by disorder, church planters endure grave risks. Pastor Mintu’s congregation has waited 18 months for their church amid neighbor protests.
Compounding woes, many Christians squat on non-owned land—government or Muslim-held—teetering on eviction’s edge. Muslim dominance forces fragile ties. As voting day looms, the report stresses the need for safeguards to avert tragedy.