Improved, but Unstable

For over three years, nationalist rebels and the Bangladeshi military have been engaged in fierce fighting in the forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The civilian population—the predominantly Christian Bawm tribe—has had to endure harassment and arbitrary arrests by the military.

Now the situation has improved somewhat: the police and military are no longer arresting civilians indiscriminately, but are targeting militant rebels. It has become safer for the Bawms. A Bawm pastor who had been unjustifiably imprisoned was recently released from prison after a year and a half. However, 150 families known to us are still fleeing to India, and there are certainly more. And gatherings are still not allowed in the region.

From the jungle to the city

In the provincial capital of Chittagong, we visit a community of young Bawms who fled here from the hill country two years ago. We immerse ourselves in the traffic chaos of this metropolis and finally reach an old high-rise building, whose stairs we climb to the 9th floor. Seven Christian families, a total of 30 people, live in several small apartments. The people are grateful for our visit and we try to encourage them.

Our Bible school is now also located in Chittagong, having moved here from our Harvest Center in the Bandarban region due to rebel fighting. Currently, ten students and two teachers live together in a 4.5-room apartment. Most of them are Bengalis, some are from the Mru ethnic minority, and one is Bawm. Bengali is spoken. The Bible students are taught for 18 months and then sent out to preach and lead churches. The two-story Harvest Center house in Bandarban currently serves as accommodation for Christian families who have fled the rebel areas and who, despite an official ban, also hold secret church services here.

Fruit in the jungle

ACP also supports several schools in the jungle of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. One special case is Amoy Para. This school is extremely remote. To reach it, you have to travel two days by car and boat. The commitment of a teacher from the Mru tribe, who is also an evangelist, is bearing fruit: the 17 boys and 5 girls attend classes and Sunday school regularly and with great enthusiasm.