People profile

The Muslims living in Eastern South Asia, which surrounds the Bay of Bengal, number about 150 million in Bangladesh and another 150 million in Eastern India, Myanmar (4.3% Muslim), and the Maldives (98.4% Muslim) combined. Bengali-speaking peoples are the largest ethnic group in Eastern South Asia, and the majority of the 275 million are Muslim.

Millions in the region live in poverty. Much of the terrain is river flood plains nestled up against the Himalayas.

The Muslims in India and Myanmar are minority peoples and face hostility. In India there are regular flare ups of Hindu mob violence against Muslims. Though there are millions of Indian Muslims, many feel increasingly marginalized and are falling behind economically. The Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) face unrelenting pressure from the Buddhist majority, with more than a million living in refugee camps in Eastern Bangladesh.

Strategic prayer

  • The annual Bishwa Ijtema (Global Congregation) on the outskirts of Dhaka brings 5 million Muslim devotees from 150 countries together for three days to pray and listen to Muslim preachers. Pray that they will be disillusioned and keep seeking the real truth.
  • Because of the strong pro-Hindu national government in India, there is very little social cost for Muslims who choose to follow Christ.
  • House churches are multiplying among Muslims in West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh as well as the states surrounding Bangladesh in the northeast.
  • In Bangladesh there are some large movements to Christ outside of the capital. Ever since a translation of the Bible into the Muslim-dialect Bengali was completed in 2000, there has been growing response to the Gospel.