Dhaka's Rosary Church bombed on eve of feast day
Last night, a serious act of intimidation struck the largest Catholic parish in Bangladesh, in the Tejgaon neighbourhood. No casualties or injuries have been reported, but there is great concern about the gesture and the message it conveys. Parish priest Fr Joyonto Sylvester Gomes: ‘Our church had never been targeted before’ . The Bangladesh Christian Association: ‘The government must identify those responsible and address the situation’.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - A sudden explosion struck the square in front of the Rosary Church in the Tejgaon neighbourhood of Dhaka late on Wednesday evening, 8 October, causing panic among local residents and raising security concerns ahead of an important Catholic holiday.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang, followed by a thick cloud of smoke that enveloped the area near the church gate.
A resident who asked to remain anonymous said he ran outside after hearing the explosion and saw smoke rising in front of the church. Security personnel told him they saw two people throwing homemade bombs - commonly known as Molotov cocktails - before fleeing the scene.
Tejgaon police station chief Mobarak Hossain confirmed the incident to the media, saying: ‘We received the report and immediately sent a patrol to the scene. The investigation is ongoing and we cannot provide any further details at this time.’
No injuries or casualties have been reported. The motive for the attack remains unknown. Authorities are investigating whether it was an act of sabotage, terrorism or a local dispute. A case has been opened under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The timing of the incident is particularly worrying for the Catholic community. This Friday is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, one of the main celebrations for the community of Tejgaon, the largest Catholic parish in Bangladesh, which serves about 12,000 faithful, including many internal migrants who have moved to Dhaka from rural areas in search of work and opportunities.
Fr Joyonto Sylvester Gomes, parish priest of the church, expressed deep concern about the attack: ‘We are extremely shocked by this explosion in front of our church gate,’ he told AsiaNews. ‘After last year's mass protests, there has been instability in the country, but our church had never been targeted. This sudden event is alarming. There must be a reason.’
Nirmol Rozario, president of the Bangladesh Christian Association, visited the site of the explosion and strongly condemned the attack: ‘We are saddened and deeply concerned,’ he said. ‘Christians, Hindus and Muslims have lived peacefully together in Bangladesh for a long time. This incident raises serious questions about the intentions of those who carried it out.’
Rozario urged the government to take the matter very seriously and ensure a thorough investigation: ‘We strongly condemn this heinous act. The authorities must identify and prosecute those responsible.’
He also recalled previous attacks against Christians in Bangladesh, including the 2001 attack on the Catholic church in Baniarchar, Gopalganj, and the 2016 murder of Catholic merchant Sunil Gomes in the parish of Banpara, Natore: ‘These attacks against peace-loving Christians are deeply painful,’ he added.
This morning, the police were still present to secure the area around the church. Parishioners and local residents remain on alert, hoping that justice will be done quickly and that the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary can take place in peace.
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