Sumon Corraya

Hundreds of people attended the ordination of Fr Limon Biswas, a PIME missionary like Fr Antonio Marietti, who was the first to speak about Jesus in 1856 in Jessore, a village in the present-day Diocese of Khulna. Now he himself will leave as a missionary for Papua New Guinea. “I hope he will spread the Gospel with dedication and love,” said Bishop Boiragi.

A tragedy of poverty and gambling addiction lies in a father's decision to take his own life after killing his wife and two children. In a statement, Minarul Islam mentions “debt and hunger”. This tragedy is like several others that have occurred in recent weeks. Investigators have opened a case to shed light on the organisation that lent the man money.

During the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, some Christian leaders denounced exclusion and discrimination and renewed a series of demands to the government, including constitutional recognition, implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and the establishment of a land commission.

5 August 2024 marked the end of 15 years of authoritarian rule by the Awami League. But one year after what is now called “Liberation Day”, promises of justice and inclusion remain largely unfulfilled. Tonight, Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus will read the July Declaration before Parliament.

The arrest of a young man for blasphemy sparked mob violence in a village that saw 14 Hindu homes vandalised, forcing about 50 families to flee. After police arrived, several agents were injured. The incident highlights the rise in anti-minority violence in Bangladesh following last summer's protests that ousted Sheikh Hasina's government.

Dozens of injured are being treated in various hospitals. The story of a boy who pulled a younger girl from the rubble and brought her to safety. The army praises the heroism of the pilot, who died in the tragedy, who reportedly tried to avoid populated areas. However, it was his first solo training flight. The secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Kubi, expresses the condolences of the Catholic Church

At least four people were killed during a demonstration by the youth student party that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Hasina. The incident comes amid growing sectarian violence that has claimed more than 140 lives in the past ten months. Religious minorities and human rights defenders complain about a climate of terror and call for quick elections to overcome the weaknesses of the current caretaker government.

Four men accused of being part of a terrorist network in Malaysia have been repatriated and are under arrest in Dhaka, while investigations into the matter continue. The recruiters had infiltrated migrants from Bangladesh, who number about one million in the Southeast Asian country. The incident risks compromising their job opportunities.

Demands for electoral reform are growing in Bangladesh. Several voices from across the political spectrum have proposed scrapping the first-past-the-post system to enhance the presence of minorities in parliament. Elections are expected in April next year.

On the International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts – founded by the Brothers of the Holy Cross and supported by Caritas – received a new award for the quality of its services. For Director Brother Gomes, “stricter measures against trafficking” and psychological support for young people are needed. Rising addiction rates are setting off alarm bells in the country.

Sumi Begum's daughter died just four days after she was born prematurely. In the country, 600,000 babies are born prematurely every year, the highest percentage in the world. The Bangladesh Medical University discussed the issue with Save the Children. Better family training, improved services, and awareness-raising are the proposed interventions.

Founder of Radio Jyoti (Light), the first Catholic radio station in the country, he was 75 years old. The funeral took place in Natore, his hometown. Author also of plays, he was director of the Christian Communication Centre of the Bangladesh Bishops' Conference. Fr Dilip S. Costa: "He used every means to proclaim the Gospel".