While Bangladesh is a majority-Muslim nation, the government avoids undue influence from Islamists and actively fights extremism. Sunni Muslims make up 87% of Bangladesh’s population, and 2% are Shia Muslims. Approximately 0.5% are Christians. Many Christian groups meet publicly, while others worship in unregistered churches. When Muslims convert to Christianity, they are often forced to leave their community, facing persecution from local Muslim authorities, Islamic extremist groups, their families and their communities.
Like many Bangladeshi Christians in the months since the August 2024 overthrow of the government, Arif has faced increased pressure from Muslim extremist groups because of his faith in Christ. Witnessing this, Arif’s brothers, who are still Muslim, have declared their support for him and their opposition to the Muslim clerics who have harassed Arif.
Arif shared the following verses: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NKJV)
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