Uttara priest gets fresh death threat

A Christian priest in the capital received a death threat for a second time yesterday, barely three days before Christmas.

Jagadish Edward, academic dean of Gloria Theological Seminary at Uttara, was among the dozen of priests who got death threats in text messages last month.

At 5:54am yesterday, he received another SMS from the same number. It read: "…. Should we arrange your burial or let your family do it? Inform [us] today."

Later around 7:30am, he got a phone call from that number but could not receive it as he was away, he told The Daily Star.

In the previous morning, the same sender had written to him: “You would be facing action on Christmas.”

Jagadish told The Daily Star that he limited his movement as he was feeling insecure following the repeated threats. ”I have informed police about the matter.”

Ali Hossain Khan, officer-in-charge of Uttara Paschim Police Station, said they were investigating the incident.

Several members of the Christian community said they have been gripped by an unprecedented sense of insecurity before Christmas due to the death threats and some recent attacks on Christian priests.

Police failure to arrest the sender of the threats has also raised their concerns, they added.

A Mirpur-based priest, who was among the 12 priests receiving the death threats in mid November, said: ”We are scared and in constant touch with the law enforcement agency members for our security during the Christmas celebrations.”

He preferred not to be named.

Pastor Luke Sarker survived a deadly attack on October 5 in Pabna while Piero Parolari, an Italian doctor and priest, was shot in the back of his head in Dinajpur in November.

William Proloy Samadder, organising secretary of Bangladesh Christian Association, also said they were anxious about their security for the same reasons.

He said during a courtesy call ahead of Christmas, Christian leaders met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Gono Bhaban yesterday, and she assured them of adequate security during the upcoming celebrations.

Hasina also greeted Christians on the occasion of their biggest festival, he added. 

Yesterday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said apart from regular intelligence surveillance, “visible” security measures will be in place to ensure a peaceful Christmas celebration on Friday.

All the churches across the country, including around 60 in the capital, will be brought under CCTV coverage, he said after a meeting with top officials of law enforcement agencies at his ministry.