About Bangladesh

The country of Bangladesh became fully independent in 1971 and established the capital city as Dhaka. About 63% of the country is considered rural and is densely populated. In recent years, migration to cities has increased, but Bangladesh is still considered one of the least-urbanized areas in South Asia.

The majority of the population in Bangladesh is Bengali.The country is 89.1% Sunni Muslim, 10% is Hindu, and 0.9% are categorized as “other.” Islam is the official religion of Bangladesh and the country is not open to proselytization from other religions. 26.4% of the population is under 15, and 53% is under 30.

The Bengali landscape is mostly flat plains covered with numerous rivers. Though the country is mostly agricultural, the monsoon season (May to October) often causes significant crop damage and loss of life. The rivers also flood their banks frequently, making agricultural success difficult to maintain. Without this flooding, fertile silt deposits wouldn’t happen, making agriculture impossible; but the severe floods damage crops and can harm people and animals. Major agricultural products include raw jute, wheat, peas, beans, lentils, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and fruits.

Bangladesh receives more than 60 inches of rain on average annually. Areas of the south can receive up to 100 inches, and areas of the north can receive up to 200 inches. Most of this rainfall occurs during the monsoon season. Some of these storms may produce winds exceeding 100 mph and can create waves in the Bay of Bengal that are 20 ft high. Since the early 18th century, when records of these storms were first kept, more than 1,000,000 people have been killed in such storms.

Tuberculosis, cholera, and malaria continue to threaten public health, though government hospitals and rural health centers are working to combat the issues.

Please pray for us as we wait on the Lord to raise national LCMI missionaries in Bangladesh. The need to reach children is great as the battle against child marriages is fought every day in the poorer sections of the country. We praise God for the launching of LCMI ministry here and for the six camps that were conducted in the fall of 2022. Please pray for us as we plan to conduct more camps from 2023 onwards.