Answers to Prayer

1 A continued relative openness to the gospel continues despite, or even because of, the increased Islamist propaganda and violence, disillusionment with politicians and a series of natural mega-disasters

2 Continued church growth and the emergence of many new, younger church leaders

3 Indigenous and international NGOs have made a significant contribution towards reducing poverty through micro loans and self-help schemes for the very poor

Challenges for Prayer

1 The downward spiral of poverty and suffering cannot be reversed without good, honest and impartial leadership for the nation

2 Discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, under pressure from extremist Muslim groups

3 The churches have been growing at twice the population rate

a) Growing churches have set bold outreach goals for the future

b) The Great Commission Movement with the commitment to planting a church in every one of the 464 sub-districts and each of the ethnic groups of the country by the year 2000

c) The people-movement tribal churches

d) The churches among sections of the Hindu population

Geography

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Area 143,998 sq.km. Occupying the delta and floodplains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, with high rainfall and frequent flooding.

Population (2000) 129,155,152 +1.72%AGR

Capital Dhaka 10,979,000.

Peoples

Bengali (Bangla) 96.9%; Other South Asian 2%; Tribal 1.1%.

Literacy 38%. Official language Bangla; English often used. All languages 35. Languages with Scriptures 13Bi 8NT 3por 3w.i.p.

Economy

One of the world's poorest nations, suffering from gross over-population and periodic natural disasters such as devastating floods and cyclones with enormous loss of life and property. HDI 0.440; 150^th/174. Public debt 33% of GNP. Income/person $360 (1% of USA).

Politics

For 24 years part of Pakistan.

Religion

A secular state 1971-88.

Churches in Bangladesh

Missionaries from Bangladesh

407 in 11 agencies in 5 countries

Expatriates in Bangladesh

428 in 65 agencies

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