On June 7, police raided an evangelism meeting, arrested and tortured a pastor and two others in Boalia, Bangladesh, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.

Pastor Habibur Rahman, of Boalia Spiritual Church was leading the meeting when suddenly the police came in and took them to the police station. That night the police blindfolded them with cloths for few hours and beat them up. During the beatings police asked who was supporting them financially, and how long they had been evangelizing and how many people they had converted. At some point during the torture, police burned one of the believer’s hands and lips with a cigarette.

VOM contacts reported that Pastor Rahman and the other two tortured believers have recovered from their injuries. They believe the attack occurred at the urging of local Muslims who are unhappy with believers’ evangelism efforts in the community. VOM has provided assistance to Pastor Rahman and the other believers in Boalia.

VOM actively supports persecuted believers in Bangladesh by providing discipleship training materials, bicycles for evangelists, and emergency relief for persecuted believers. Pray for Pastor Rahman and the believers in this area as they continue serving Christ in the midst of persecution. Ask God to encourage and give them boldness.