Sumon Corraya

The quake registered 29 kilometers from the Indian city of Imphal, in the state of Manipur, at a depth of 17 kilometers and also felt by the Burmese. The initial toll is five victims in India and three in Bangladesh; over 30 injured. The people took to the streets in Bangladesh for fear of collapsing buildings.

Ahmed Rajib Haider was the first writer to be assassinated in 2013 because of his atheism and ideas contrary to Islam. A special court issues two death sentences and six jail terms for his killers. Only five years in prison to the Islamic leader who instigated the murder. The victim's father: "‘faulty and inconsistent’ judgment. I will appeal. "

Pope Francis creates a new suffragan see to Dhaka. For the new bishop, local Catholics “waited for a long time to have their own diocese. Now the pope has fulfilled their wish”.

​Mgr Bejoy D'Cruze, bishop of Shylet, and Mgr Paul Panen Kubi, bishop of Mymenshing, received threatening text messages. Since October, 37 Christian leaders have received threats, including Nirmal Rozario, secretary of the Bangladesh Christian Association. "Since Christians are a minority, their life is very vulnerable,” he said.

​Founded by Salesian missionaries in 1940, run by Xaverian Fathers until 1974, the school is currently administered by the Diocese of Khulna. About 95 per cent of its students have been Hindu and Muslim. The school has also educated priests, doctors, scientists, writers, and journalists.

Sariful Islam is a member of the Islamist group Jamaat-ul-Mujiahideen, banned by the local government. In addition to the ambush of the missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, he also confessed the attack on a Hindu temple. Authorities meet Christian leaders and ensure maximum safety for the Christmas celebrations.

Some 3,500 Bangladeshi Catholics have joined a Facebook page to raise funds and collect essential items to be donated to the poor for Christmas. Warm clothes and small gifts have already been handed out to help people face the cold weather before Christmas. Those who give are not rich, “only those who understand the true meaning of Jesus’ birth."

Today marks the anniversary of victory over Pakistan. The conflict began in March 1971 and in nine months resulted in an estimated 3 thousand victims. Nearly 200 thousand women and girls were abused; 1,100 Christians joined in the fighting. Christian activist: "We fought for a non-sectarian country. But the Christian minority is often the victim of violence at the hands of Islamic radicals. They are destroying our dreams".

Rajesh D 'Cruze is a banker and his brother Ranjan D' Cruze works at a private company. They were attacked by more than five unidentified thugs. The dynamics of the attack reminiscent of the one against Fr. Piero Parolari, with gun and knife. Christian leader: "We have been victim of attacks for too long. We demand justice and security from the government".

The religious belongs to of Catechist Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Queen of Angels founded in 1951 by then Bishop Joseph Obert, PIME. For 16 years, she led the sisters, pushing for more education and a greater role in society. In a male-dominated society, she managed to hold fast to her vocation and boost the contribution of women to the Church and the country.

According to the UN, 9,500 people are HIV-positive in the country. About 50 of them are Catholics. Because of social stigma, people have been forced to change their name and move away from home. Caritas Bangladesh provides economic and spiritual assistance, including bursaries to the children of the poorest, but for volunteer, preventing priests from addressing the issue is making matters worse.

The Catholic community is marking the 75th anniversary of Pratibeshi, a weekly founded in 1940. Run by the Office for Social Communications of the Bishops Conference, the paper is a member of the World Catholic Association for Communication. Its 8,000 copies are available in Bangladesh and abroad. For Mgr Gervas Rozario, “We publish it to serve people through the doctrine of the Church.”