Catholic colleges in Bangladesh threatened over conversion claims

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec 10, 2025 / 12:00 pm

The president of the Bangladesh Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Dhaka, has expressed concern after threats against two prominent Catholic colleges posed “a grave concern for the Catholic Church,” particularly ahead of Christmas and elections scheduled for February in a Dec. 3 statement.

On Dec. 2, a letter written in Bengali under the name Tawhidee Muslim Janata (“faithful Muslim people”) was sent to two of Bangladesh’s most prestigious colleges: Notre Dame College, run by the Holy Cross Fathers, and Holy Cross College, run by the Holy Cross Sisters.

The letter thanked the Catholic Church for its role in education but said that the Church is now trying to convert not only indigenous groups and Muslims to Christianity by offering various incentives.

“In a country where 90% of Muslims live, you are trying to convert people by using educational institutions as a tool,” the group stated in the letter.

The letter urged the colleges to ensure that educational and social institutions are not used directly or indirectly for religious conversion. “We are not giving you any advice —rather we order you to be careful. If you do not pay heed to our warning, the Tawhidee Muslims’ will not spare your places of prayer, churches, cathedrals, chapels and missionary institutions,” the letter stated.

After receiving the letter, the Notre Dame College authorities filed a general diary with local police.

In his statement, D’Cruze noted that the majority of students and teachers at both institutions are Muslims. Notre Dame College is for boys and Holy Cross College for girls. The priests and nuns who run these institutions are now living in fear and anxiety, he said.

Although Catholics make up less than 1% of Bangladesh’s 180 million people, this small religious community has made a significant contribution to the country’s education sector, D’Cruze said.

The Church operates at least one university, 18 colleges, 76 high schools, and over 1,000 primary schools across the nation, all of which are open to people of all faiths.

D’Cruze, who also heads the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board Trust, said in his statement: “It is a grave concern for the Catholic Church to give security to our students and faithful who come to church and institutions.”

“I draw your kind attention to stand by us, students, faithful, and institutions,” D’Cruze said. “The Catholic Church is not involved in proselytization; on the contrary, this is what takes place.”

Pattern of attacks

The threats come amid a series of attacks targeting Catholic institutions in Dhaka in recent weeks.

On Nov. 7, two homemade bombs were thrown at the gate of St. Mary’s Cathedral just hours before a national jubilee celebration.

The following day, explosive devices were hurled at St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School and College, also a major Church-run educational institution in Dhaka. On Oct. 8, Holy Rosary Church in the capital, one of the country’s oldest churches, was also attacked.

Read original article