Bangladesh (MNN) — Student protestors seek justice while Bangladesh’s interim government struggles to maintain order.
Police officers refuse to return to work. Many vanished from their posts after facing mob violence for their role in hundreds of protester deaths.
“It’s (Bangladesh is) ruled by the mob right now. When you have hundreds of people gathering, who will step in the way of that?” FARMS International’s Scott Clifton says.
“The military hasn’t been able to maintain order. The police force hasn’t been able to maintain order. It’s affecting anybody who’s [in] a minority group.”
Hindus protest the mistreatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh on August 12, 2024.
(Wikimedia Commons)
FARMS’ primary contact in Bangladesh says gangs are setting minorities’ houses on fire, and people are dying in the chaos. He tells Clifton, “Our days of terror are not over yet.”
“The first step for our contacts in the country is survival,” Clifton says. “They’re praying, they’re taking it moment by moment. Once there is stability, there will be an assessment of the damage and a plan made about how to move forward.”
So far, this believer has lost $30,000 worth of inventory designated to support ministry projects. “Although FARMS is focused on long-term development, part of that long-term development might be re-establishing businesses that can continue to support people locally,” Clifton notes.
The most important thing YOU can do is pray. “Our action item is to pray, to appeal to God on behalf of all the believers in Bangladesh,” Clifton says.
“[Pray] that He would protect them, that ministry would continue, that He would even use the hardships to soften many people’s hearts and open them to the Gospel.”
Pray also for a peaceful resolution to the current unrest and end the economic “bleeding.” “The economic situation in Bangladesh has been really bad. Now, with everything shut down, it’s [even worse,]” Clifton says.
“You have many people [living] below the poverty line, depending on day laborers’ wages to provide for that week’s food. Everything is closed, so people can’t find work, and there is a lot of economic stress. Once [the situation] stabilizes and people can earn an income to support their family and put food on the table, that will go a long way towards stability in the country.”
Header image depicts a public celebration following the forced ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)
