Bangladesh Catholics face security fears at major pilgrimage amid tense elections

Just days before Bangladesh’s national elections, the country’s largest Catholic pilgrimage has raised concerns among the faithful over safety at a time of heightened tensions against the Christian minority.

The annual pilgrimage to St. Anthony, held each year on the first Friday of February at St. Nicholas Parish in Gazipur district near Dhaka, is scheduled for Feb. 6 — less than a week before the Feb. 12 national elections.

The timing has created division among Catholics about whether to attend, though Church authorities insist the religious gathering has no connection to politics.

“Every year, thousands of people take part in this pilgrimage, including Catholics and Protestants. But this year, the context is a little different because the elections are just next week,” said Mintu Biswas, 45, a Catholic from the Dinajpur Diocese.

Biswas attends the pilgrimage every year with his family but will not be coming this year.

“Basically, in the election of Bangladesh, political parties use the minority community as their trump card. So I have a kind of fear in me. So I will not go this time,” Biswas told EWTN News.

Recent attacks heighten concerns

The security concerns come after a series of violent attacks targeting Catholic institutions in recent months.

In November 2025, homemade bombs exploded at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School and College in Dhaka. In December, a Muslim group sent threatening letters to two prestigious Catholic colleges, warning of attacks on “churches, cathedrals, chapels, and missionary institutions” unless the schools stopped alleged conversion efforts.

Christians — who comprise less than 1% of Bangladesh’s approximately 180 million people — have reported increased security concerns since political upheaval in August 2024, when mass student-led protests forced longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country after 15 years in power. An interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus now governs the country.

The pilgrimage organizing committee said about 50,000 pilgrims attended last year and expected similar numbers this year.

Church authorities have written to the country’s home ministry, senior government officials in Gazipur district, and law enforcement agencies, seeking security and informing them about the pilgrimage.

A senior priest from the Dhaka Archdiocese, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told EWTN News: “This is a religious event; it has nothing to do with politics. We have informed the government and the administration, but we have not received any response yet.”

Stating that silence is a sign of consent, the priest said: “We have sought security from the government. If they do not provide security, we have our own volunteers, with whom we can ensure security.”

Avinash Soren, 41, a Protestant who works in Dhaka, said he believes the pilgrimage of St. Anthony is a historical and acceptable pilgrimage for everyone, especially for Christians in Bangladesh. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to provide security.

“I will go to the pilgrimage of St. Anthony with my family. I hope the government will provide maximum security,” Soren said.

He thanked the Catholic Church for the courage to organize the pilgrimage and said there is no obstacle to organizing the religious ceremony.

Government response

Zakir Hossain, the police officer in the pilgrimage area, confirmed to EWTN News on Jan. 28 that he had received a letter from the Church authorities.

“I received the letter yesterday regarding this religious event. At the same time, a possible letter has also been sent to the district police superintendent and the district commissioner,” Hossain said.

The police officer said: “We are reviewing the letter and the location of the area where the pilgrimage will take place, checking the security. But we have not taken any decision yet. If the government approves, then of course, maximum security measures will be taken.”