Mission History

Bangladesh Lutheran Church and Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Lutheran Church was launched in 1979 when Bengali-speaking members of the Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church met in Saraswatipur. Since their culture and language were quite different from the Santals, the Bengali desired a church of their own. When officially organized in 1981, the BLC had 70 members, of whom 28 had Hindu backgrounds.

Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh was first proposed in 1992 in the context of ELCA Global Mission's focus on Islam. Construction at the present site in Dumki was begun in 1995 and completed in 1997.