First came the Vedda people from Sri Lanka, and later Mediterranean peoples from Europe. By the 8th century the land now associated with Bengalis was becoming populated by Arabs, Turks, and Persians.
The term "Bengali" fits better with a language than an ethnic group. There are over 200 million people who speak this language, making it one of the top 10 largest languages in the world. There are numerous castes and communities that speak this major South Asian language.
Bengalis speakers cannot be defined by religion since they are either Hindu or Muslim. Hindus live mainly in India's state of West Bengal, and Muslims live mainly in their own country, Bangladesh. People often call the Muslim Bengalis "Bangladeshis" though there are many Muslim Bengalis in West Bengal as well.
Bengali speakers have a long, proud history as intellectuals in South Asia. Bengali artists have produced great literature, films, music, and dance.
Though most Bengalis speakers live in either India or Bangladesh, there is a considerable diaspora. Some Bengalis have migrated to Finland, though this is far from their most favored destination. Those who live in Finland are mainly in Helsinki, the capital city.
A good many Bangladeshis in Finland are students. Up until 2012, Finland gave many scholarships to promising students from developing countries like Bangladesh. Others are businessmen, shop owners or workers, jewelers, and techies.
The Bengalis who live in Finland are mainly from Bangladesh, and they are Sunni Muslims. In Bangladesh, Muslims do not tolerate dissention from those who want to "convert" to another religion, or even to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam.
Bangladeshis in Finland have an opportunity to embrace Christ that they don't have in Bangladesh, where they are likely to face persecution from the Sunni Muslim majority.
* Scripture Prayers for the South Asian, Bengali-speaking in Finland.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to birth a cascading discipleship movement among the Bengalis in Europe for God's glory.
Pray that the followers of Christ in Finland will lovingly reach out to these Muslims with Christ-like character.
Pray that Bangladeshis will be open to embracing Jesus Christ as lord of their lives.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10790/FI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indians_in_Finland
http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_stops_recruiting_students_from_developing_world/5098472
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengalis
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bengali
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/masala-noodles/how-did-bengalis-become-muslims1/
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Afghanistan-to-Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bengalis.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Finland
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | South Asian, Bengali-speaking |
People Name in Country | South Asian, Bengali-speaking |
Natural Name | Bengali-speaking South Asian |
Pronunciation |
|
Population this Country | 1,600 |
Population all Countries | 1,901,000 |
Total Countries | 21 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Bangla-Bhasa; Bengali, Muslims; Hindu; साउत एशियन, बिंगाली-स्पीकिंग |
People ID | 10790 |
ROP3 Code | 101254 |
Country | Finland | ||
Region | Europe, Western | ||
Continent | Europe | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | Finland |
Region | Europe, Western |
Continent | Europe |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Primary Language | Bengali (1,600 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Bengali (1,600 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online Audio Scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bengali |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Rivka video |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | COMIBAM / Sepal |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |