Watch: Olivia and Dijen – victims of anti-Christian violence in Bangladesh

29 January 2025

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Meet Olivia and Dijen, Christians from the Santal community in Bangladesh, a small group facing severe Christian persecution. The Santals, often targeted by Islamist extremists, suffer harassment, land theft, and violence due to their faith in Jesus. Olivia’s husband, Dijen, was critically injured defending their community’s land. Despite their hardship, Olivia, Dijen, and the entire Santal community have found strength through their Christian faith.

 

Who is Olivia?

Olivia is a Christian woman from Bangladesh. In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, just 0.3% of the population are Christian. Believers there are often persecuted, especially in the northern parts of the country. 

Olivia is part of the Santal Christian community, one of the most ancient indigenous communities in Bangladesh. The Santal people are persecuted for their conversion to Christianity, commonly by land-grabbing Islamist extremists. 

Olivia’s family, like many others in her community, have farming as their main occupation. As part of a small Christian community, this makes them a target for land-grabbers.

Olivia stands with her cattle

Olivia tends to her cattle alongside the homes that were built through the generous donations of Barnabas supporters

What happened when the land-grabbers came to Olivia’s community? 

One day, land-grabbers came to Olivia’s community, and started to take their sugar cane crops. The community told the land grabbers, “You can take our crops, but we won’t let you take our land – this land belongs to our forefathers.” 

Community members, including Olivia’s husband Dijen, started protesting against the land-grabbers. However, the land-grabbers had guns. They started firing at the protesters, and Dijen was shot in the face.  

Later that night, the land-grabbers came back to Olivia’s community, and set fire to their shacks. This left 250 Christian families homeless. 

Did Dijen survive? 

Dijen was rushed to hospital after he was shot, and it was established that he had suffered 13 gunshot wounds.  

Thankfully, he survived. However, three other Christians from the community died. 

While Dijen was in the hospital, Olivia was afraid that the Muslim men would come and rape her. She prayed to Jesus to heal her husband and bring him home. 

Dijen returned alive, but permanently disabled. He had completely lost the sight in his left eye. He was no longer able to work, and Olivia started to work as a daily labourer to provide for the family.  

They also had to move to a relative’s house, because their home was burnt down. Throughout that time, Olivia prayed to God. “I said God, you know our situation, you know how we are living. Please help us. We need you.”

Dijen fills a bucket of water

Dijen fills a bucket of water with a water pump funded by Barnabas Aid supporters

What did Barnabas Aid do to help? 

Barnabas Aid has been working in Bangladesh for nearly 20 years, serving persecuted and suffering Christians. When they learned about the plight of the Santal community, they sent help.  

With the assistance of local project partners in the country, Barnabas Aid built 100 houses for the displaced Santal Christians. Olivia’s family was one of many who received this blessing from God. Along with the house, Barnabas Aid also provided her family with food items throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, to sustain the family.  

What is life like now for Olivia and Dijen? 

Dijen credits Jesus as the one who saved his life the day of the attack, and the one who healed him from his injuries. Despite his disabilities, Dijen and Olivia are now strengthened in their faith, as they know that God will always provide for them and He always cares.  

They feel safer than before, and can worship God in freedom. They know that Heaven is their home.  

Olivia told Barnabas, “Here, they can kill me. They can persecute and torture me. But I firmly believe that I am going to Heaven.”  

Christian man and woman praying in Bangladesh

How can you help persecuted Christians like Olivia and Dijen?

If you would like to make a difference in the lives of more Christians like Olivia and Dijen who suffer for their Christian faith, please consider giving to our project providing support to our Victims of Violence project, which supports believers around the world. To give to this project and help suffering Christians, use project code 00-345 on our donations page.

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Pray for Christians in Bangladesh

Here are some prayer points related to this story, which you may wish to take before our Heavenly Father: 

  • Give thanks to the Lord for saving Dijen’s life after the land-grabbers' attack. Pray that he will fully recover from his injuries and that his faith will make him spiritually and physically strong.
  • Praise the Lord for the courage of Olivia’s community, that they stood their ground when the land-grabbers arrived and even when they were attacked. Ask that God will continue to watch over His people in that community, giving them hope for a bright future despite the trauma they have suffered. 
  • Pray for peace for Santal Christians in Bangladesh. Ask that they will be spared further suffering and protected from the Islamists who persecute them. Ask that they keep the Lord as their fortress, taking their strength from Him.  
  • Give thanks that Barnabas Aid was able to assist Olivia’s community in their time of need. Pray that God will continue to use Barnabas to provide for His people and raise awareness of their suffering.  

Related Countries

Bangladesh