The Bhumij people, originally from India, migrated to Bangladesh in search of land and agricultural opportunities. Their name means "children of the soil."
Most of the Bhumij of Bangladesh speak Bangla, Bangladesh's trade language. They are divided into clans and their elders settle social disputes. Rice, fish, and eggs are their staple foods, and as Hindus, they won't eat beef. Many now work as tea-laborers.
While there are a few Christians among the Bhumij of Bangladesh, the vast majority follow a mixture of Hinduism and ethnic religions. They observe many Hindu rituals and feasts and seek spiritual direction from the local village priest.
The majority of the Bhumij still need to hear the message of salvation in Christ. The Bhumij who have chosen to follow Jesus need encouragement and discipleship.
Ask the Lord to raise up and send his children to the Bhumij in Bangladesh. Pray for the hearts of the Bhumij to be receptive to the gospel. Pray for the believers among them to grow in Christ and boldly share their faith with other Bhumij. Pray for a church planting movement among the Bhumij.
Scripture Prayers for the Bhumij in Bangladesh.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bhumij |
People Name in Country | Bhumij |
Alternate Names | Bhumij Desua; Bhumija; Bhumjia; Chai Bin; Desua Bhumij; Kisan-Bhumij; भूमीज़ |
Population this Country | 35,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,363,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16447 |
ROP3 Code | 111603 |
ROP25 Code | 301179 |
ROP25 Name | Bhumij |
Country | Bangladesh | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 30 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Bangladesh |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 30 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 5 |
Sylhet 28,000 | |
Rajshahi 3,600 | |
Khulna 1,900 | |
Dhaka 1,100 | |
Chittagong 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.07 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
1.12 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
97.38 %
|
Islam |
0.47 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.96 %
|
* From latest Bangladesh census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Sylheti (19,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | syl Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Sylheti (19,000 speakers) |
Language Code | syl Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bengali 8,200 | |
Mundari 6,800 | |
Assamese 300 | |
Bishnupuriya 80 | |
People Groups | Speaking Sylheti |
Primary Language: Sylheti
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1993) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2014) |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Sylheti | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Sylheti | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Sylheti | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |