Introduction / History

Ethnic Bengalis are the original inhabitants of the Bengal region which straddles Bangladesh and West Bengal, a state in India. Bengali is their language, and it is one of the largest in the world. While the vast majority of Bengalis live in Bangladesh and northeast India, some have migrated to other countries such as Italy. The first Bangladeshis began to arrive in Italy in the late 1980s and 1990s. Their population increased dramatically since that time; today they are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Italy.
The Bengalis who live in Italy are usually in the regions of Lazio, Lombardy and Veneto. They are concentrated in the cities of Rome, Venice and Milan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Bangladeshis often work in Italy's service industry, in agriculture or in ship building where they earn low wages. They have a high unemployment rate. To make matters worse they are vulnerable to attacks by neo fascists. Despite this threat, the Bangladeshis stay in Italy knowing that a return home will only lead to unemployment and a higher level of economic destitution.
To get to Italy Bangladeshis often have to pay a huge amount of money to traffickers and endure a dangerous boat trip. Still, they prefer Italy, a country that has a history of accepting more Bangladeshis than other EU countries.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Bengalis in Italy are Sunni Muslims. They have varying degrees of dedication to their religious beliefs.

What Are Their Needs?

The Bangladeshis in Italy need economic opportunities that will help them to flourish in their new homeland. Christians can serve them by teaching them valuable job skills.

Prayer Points

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Bengalis in Italy towards Christian believers so that they will be receptive to the gospel. Ask the Lord to raise up strong Bengali churches that will reproduce themselves, spreading the fragrance of Christ in their community and beyond. Pray for loving ambassadors of Christ to go to the South Asians in Italy. Pray for a disciple making movement among the Bengalis in Europe.

Scripture Prayers for the South Asian, Bengali-speaking in Italy.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshis_in_Italy
https://www.dw.com/en/why-do-bangladeshi-migrants-take-irregular-routes-to-italy/a-60683932
https://web.archive.org/web/20220216175346/https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/BGD/MM%20Final%2002052018%20NRB%20%20report.pdf
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10308-012-0333-3
https://bangladesh.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1006/files/documents/bangladeshi-migrants-in-europe-2021.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/world/europe/italy-palermo-immigrants-salvino.html