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Bangladesh Profile
The birth of Bangladesh came at a tumultuous time. Bangladesh was carved out as a Muslim homeland after India's independence from British rule in 1949, becoming East Pakistan. In 1971, civil war separated East Pakistan and it became Bangladesh.
Once among the wealthiest areas of the Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh has been ranked among the world's most corrupt countries and is now one of the poorest—55 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. The average life expectancy is only 61 years.
Bullock carts, boats and bicycles are widely depended upon for transportation. Bangladesh sits on the delta of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas into the Bay of Bengal. Flooding submerges a third of the country during the June-October monsoon season, leaving death and destruction in its path.
Muslims, mostly Sunnis, make up 90 percent of the 152 million people. Officially there is religious freedom, but it is gradually slipping away through the influence of extremist groups. Discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, is on the rise. Yet God is moving in Bangladesh and many are coming to salvation.
Gospel for Asia in Bangladesh:
- Work began in 1998
- Personal evangelism
- Church planting and home fellowships
- 2 Bible colleges
- 163 missionaries
- GFA Radio (Bengali, Muslimi Bengali, Kokborok)
- Literature distribution
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