Christians in Bangladesh comprise 0.5 percent out of a population of 163 million. The majority of Bangladeshis, more than 90 percent, are Muslims.

 

Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) claims to be the oldest Protestant church body in Bangladesh, dating its founding to William Carey, who started Baptist work in the South Asian country in 1796.

 

From the outset, BBCS, which has approximately 22,700 members in 350 churches across 35 districts, has been involved in spiritual and social development. It comprises 10 regional districts, called Anchalik Baptist Church Sangha (ABCS).

 

As BBCS has only 116 pastors, less than a third of the number of churches, the need is urgent for trained pastoral and lay leadership. The Baptist Theological Academy provides training for pastors and lay leaders with emphasis on the life and teaching of Jesus, Baptist doctrine, as well as on pastoral and character formation.

 

Baptist students enroll in Theological Education by Extension (TEE), a program of the College of Christian Theology Bangladesh (CCTB). CCTB, formed in 1968 by representatives from 16 national church and mission bodies, was the first interdenominational theological training institution in the country. More than 340 persons, including Baptists, are pursuing bachelors and masters degrees through the TEE initiative, which started in 1976.

 

Through a major evangelism drive, efforts are underway to reach the various tribal groups. There are 22 churches among the Santal tribal group in the Chapai Nawabganj area in Rajshahi District; and 17 churches among the Mru tribes in the southeastern Bandarban Hill Tracts. Plans are under preparation to establish churches in Bogra District and Sylhet city.

 

Since 1910, BBCS has operated hostels to house college and university students, providing opportunity for higher education. Its four hostels in the Sadarghat area in the capital city of Dhaka, the city of Barisal and at Dinajppur, now house 110 students.

 

Social Health and Education Development (SHED), the social service arm of BBCS, supports humanitarian welfare services through its hospitals and leprosy and other clinics, primarily to the poor in rural and urban areas.

 

SHED is involved heavily in education, overseeing 64 primary schools, a boys and a girls high schools, a school especially for girls who are blind, two orphanages, and the four hostels.

 

In addition to being a member organization of the Baptist World Alliance, BBCS has relationships with the National Council of Churches of Bangladesh, the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches.