Crude Bomb Attack Targets Historic Dhaka, Bangladesh Church Ahead of Major Catholic Feast
A crude bomb attack shook the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s Tejgaon area late on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, sparking panic just days before the annual feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The 17th-century church, founded by Portuguese missionaries in 1677 and Bangladesh’s largest Catholic parish, was targeted by unidentified assailants who hurled Molotov cocktails at its gate around 10 p.m.
Eyewitnesses, including security guard Faruk Mia, said they saw four individuals fleeing on two motorcycles after the blast, which produced a loud explosion and thick white smoke. Police confirmed the incident and said a case has been filed under the Terrorism Act 2009. Two unexploded crude bombs were also recovered and safely defused. Authorities are analyzing CCTV footage to identify the attackers.
Father Joyanto Sylvester Gomes, the parish priest, called the incident “unprecedented” and urged authorities to ensure a full investigation. No casualties were reported, but the attack has stirred fear in the local Christian community, especially with the feast day on October 10 and national elections approaching.
The Holy Rosary Church, visited by Pope Francis in 2017, serves around 12,000 Catholics and is located in a major Christian hub with schools, a college, and a hospital. Christian leaders, including Nirmol Rozario of the Bangladesh Christian Association, condemned the attack and called for justice, recalling past violence against Christians in the country.
Medical doctor and parishioner Edward Pallab Rozario linked the incident to growing instability, referencing the deadly July 2024 student-led uprising and the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. With heightened political tensions, residents and parishioners now fear further unrest targeting religious minorities.
