TWO CHRISTIAN NGO WORKERS KILLED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003710 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015 TAGS: PHUM PINS PGOV BG SUBJECT: TWO CHRISTIAN NGO WORKERS KILLED Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough reasons para 1.5 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) On July 28, two Bangladeshi activists of Christian Life Bangladesh, a local NGO affiliated with the American Campus Crusade for Christ International, were killed in Faridpur north west Bangladesh. Police have arrested three persons and continue to investigate but have not reached any conclusions about motive. ¶2. (C) On August 1, Sunil Adhikary of Christian Life Bangladesh told poloff that both victims were Shantal tribal people from Christian families giving talks in the Faridpur area about family planning and HIV/AIDS awareness as well as showing the evangelical "Jesus Film." Adhikary says they were in a Hindu and Muslim mixed village in the Faridpur area working for the past three months. ¶3. (C) According to police sources and Adhikary, Christian Life Bangladesh filed a complaint with the police on July 23 because a local Muslim religious leader threatened the two NGO activists if they continued showing the "Jesus Film." On the night of July 28, a group of seven to eight persons knocked down the door while the two men were sleeping and stabbed them to death, according to press reports, the District Commissioner, and another local Christian leader. The three persons in custody are a local peasant found with a bloody shirt and the two drivers of a rickshaw that transported the victims and their movie equipment. ¶4. (C) According to some reports, both victims were converted Hindus and had attracted the ire of local Hindus for their proselytizing efforts. It is possible, therefore, that their attackers may not have been Muslim. ¶5. (C) Comment: We will remain in touch with local officials and sources to monitor developments in this case. CHAMMAS