2001 Gopalganj Roman Catholic church bombing

On 3 June 2001, during Sunday mass, a bomb exploded at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in the parish of Baniarchor in Gopalganj District, Bangladesh. The bombing killed 10 people and injured 26 people.[1][2]

2001 Gopalganj Roman Catholic church bombing
LocationGopalganj, Bangladesh
Coordinates23.2122°N 89.9688°E / 23.2122; 89.9688
Date3 June 2001 (UTC+06:00)
TargetBangladesh
Attack type
Bombs
Deaths10
Injured26

Background

Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country where the catholic population is 0.3 percent of the population.[1] Religiously motivated attacks against the Christian community had been described as "rare".[3][4]

Attack

The bombs exploded at the Catholic church at Banaripara of Gopalganj district. Ten people were killed at the explosion. Gopalganj is the home district of then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The police suspected Islamists.[5][6] The church was holding its weekly prayers when the bomb went off.[7]

Investigation

According to media reports Shaikh Abdur Rahman the leader of the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh confessed to the police that his group was behind the bombing of the church.[8] Mufti Abdul Hannan chief of Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (Huji) Bangladesh was taken into remand over the bombing.[7]

Reactions

Michael Rosario the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Bangladesh described the attack as "barbaric" and hoped the government would find the perpetrators.[4]

References
  1. Corraya, Sumon (4 June 2013). "Muslims, Hindus and Catholics remember Baniarchar church victims". AsiaNews. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. Corraya, Sumon (4 June 2021). "Comemorating attack on Banirchor Church, Catholics demand justice". AsiaNews.
  3. "Probe ordered into Bangladesh blast". CNN. 17 June 2001.
  4. "Bangladesh church bomb kills nine". BBC. 3 June 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "Bangladesh PM blames blast on foes - June 18, 2001". CNN. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  6. Hotep, Amon. "trinicenter.com - SPECIAL NEWS". www.trinicenter.com. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  7. "Mufti Hannan remanded in church bombing case". 18 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. "christians others demand justice over 2001 church bombing - ucanews.com". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
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