Dhaka (AsiaNews) – "We are worried. The incident might be an attack against the Christian minority. Many expect other attacks like this," Church sources from the Dhaka-based Christian Communication Centre told AsiaNews. They were referring to an explosion that hit a Catholic-owned building on September 17 killing one person and injuring seven.

The investigation into the cause is still under way. Police and local media have talked about a gas leak, but there is a widespread suspicion that it was an action by Muslin fundamentalists against the Christian community.

"We visited the explosion site with Mgr Paul Tschang In-Nam, the Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh, and it was clear that it was not a simple gas leak," sources said. "Christians in this area don't have an easy life." "If it was a bomb," the nuncio added, "I hope the police will arrest the perpetrators."

Sources told AsiaNews that there may be another explanation. Christians are being targeted by local criminals tied to Islamic extremists. Christians are often forced to pay extortion money or sell their real estate to the local mafia. Through intimidation they can get properties at low cost and speculate on prices.

Father Palma, parish priest at Holy Cross church in Luxmibazar, said that this year 3 of the 15 Christian real estate owners sold out and moved abroad. "If they don't pay the money-grubbers they have to pay politicians for protection," he added.

The Gomes family which owned the building hit by the explosion was threatened several times and recently received intimidating phone calls.

The Dhaka incident highlights once again the problem of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Although officially Islam is state religion, the law formally prohibits all forms of discrimination based on religion.

However, according to the Aid to the Church in Need 2004 report, Islamic extremists often go as far as to prevent Christians from using public water wells and destroy their rickshaws depriving them of their one source of income.

Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam said he hoped that "our Christian brothers n Bangladesh would be accepted as Bangladeshi citizens like Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. No more, no less."

Out of a population of more than 125 million over 80 per cent is Muslim. At just under one million Christians are less than 1 per cent. Catholics are about 270,000. (MA)