Bangladesh School Closures Reflect Abandonment of Catholic Mission
The article from EWTN News reports that several Catholic educational institutions in Dhaka, Bangladesh, will close temporarily on November 13, 2025, due to security concerns surrounding a verdict announcement in the trial of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The political unrest has included 17 homemade bomb explosions and vehicle arson attacks since the tribunal set the announcement date. While the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board Trust (BCEBT) hasn’t mandated closures, individual institutions like Notre Dame University and St. Joseph’s International School – site of a recent bomb explosion – opted for closures or online classes. BCEBT Secretary Jyoti F. Gomes stated the decisions prioritize student safety given the unpredictable political climate. Catholic institutions serve approximately 300,000 mostly Muslim students in Bangladesh.