Looking Forward, Remembering Our Past

Category: History

We Remember – April 24th

 

April 24th marks the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide was the slaughter and deportation of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians and the deportation of hundreds of thousands from their native lands. The Armenian Church Bangladesh, commemorates and honors all those who lost their lives. 1.5 million souls will always be remembered by every Armenian around the world.

 

Memorial Image: Shant Kha – Flickr

Armenian Church Bangladesh: Michael Martin Scholarship Success in Armenia

The memory of Mr. Michael Martin, the late caretaker of the Armenian Church, Dhaka now stretches further than ever before.

 

Today we are featuring the applicants who received the Mr. Michael Martin Scholarship to matriculate at the Artsakh State University under the Yunus Social Business Centre.

Participants who applied for the scholarship had to present a business proposal and these eight candidates now have access to an education and the resources needed to be able to pursue their small business plans and help drive the economic and social future of Artsakh.

 

The Armenian Bangladesh Church strives to not only give back to the community in Bangladesh, but in Artsakh and Armenia as well.

 

Our warmest congratulations are extended to these best winning business ideas:

Narine Krikoryan – Grigoryan’s Natural Cosmetics
Artsakh Abrahamyan – Haka Group
Samuel Kirkoryan – ARTsakh’s GReeN Garden
Hasmik Ardzanyan – Sand Planet Learning Center
Milena Ohanyan – Ohanyan Dairy Factory LLC
Lusine Vanyan – Languages Learning Platform
Margarita Afanasyan – DedoBabo
Nanar Aleksanyan – Fun Way Training + Development Center

The same scholarship opportunities were provided to a group of students at Gavar State University in Armenia earlier this year.

 

The Board of the Armenian Church of Holy Resurrection, Dhaka, will continued to extend assistance through the respective Mr Michael Martin Programs both here in Bangladesh and Armenia, and we are very much looking forward to new ways and opportunities of helping each community.

 

 

 

Short Film Christmas Mass 2022

We are delighted that a local news agency make a short news report on the Christmas Mass held at the Church on January 7th.

You can watch the short report here on the Twitter feed of DD News.

Christmas Mass 2022

A Christmas Mass was held by The Church of Bangladesh hosted at the Armenian Church Dhaka on Friday 7th January 2022. Even with limited space available, the church was able to accommodate just over 200 people with additional seating being made available adjacent to the entrance in the grounds. Afterwards refreshments were served.

 

The service was conducted by Reverend Martin Adhikari and Brother Guillaume de Wolf respectively.  Our staff were on hand to help make the occasion go smoothly and we think they particularly excelled themselves with the beautiful lighting effect displayed.  Given the current pandemic, we are extremely grateful any kind of service was held at all, and our thanks are extended to both Rev Martin and Brother Guillaume for taking the service and ensuring it was conducted safely.

 

BBC Film About the Armenian Church, Dhaka

On December 25th 2021 the BBC published a short information film on the Armenian Church Bangladesh, it is actually mostly in English with some Bengali, please do take a look. Our warden, Armen Arslanian speaks about our historic building and his involvement in keeping the church preserved, and our Heritage Coordinator, Liz Chater, speaks about the history of the church as well as her own family ties to Dhaka.

We continue to raise awareness of our unique and special Armenian heritage and the footprint the Armenians had in Bangladesh. To watch the clip please follow either of these links.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCBengaliService/videos/305869961456366

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQLbJXbrlrI

AGBU Magazine August 2019 – Features Armenians in Asia

We are very excited about the latest Armenian General Benevolent Union’s August 2019 magazine. The issue focuses on Armenians in Asia, including our very own Church here in Dhaka on page 20 This downloadable pdf is a must for anyone with an interest in Armenians in Asia.

Page 06  –  The Asia Effect
Page 14   –  All Roads Lead Back to New Julfa
Page 19   –  Soft Diplomacy
Page 20   –  Bangladesh: Brethren of Bangladesh
Page 24   –  Hong Kong: Rise and Shine
Page 26   –  South Korea: Seoul Search
Page 30   –  India: The Kolkata Connection
Page 32   –  Singapore: A showcase in Singapore
Page 34   –  Puzzle Pieces to the Past
Page 38   –  Branching Out
Page 48   –  The Roots of Positive Self-Image

Dhaka Christians Welcomed at the Armenian Church

On the 10th January local Christians were welcomed in to the Armenian Church, Dhaka for a service conducted by visiting missionaries. Later, a celebration meal was served. It is good to see the church with so many people.

On the 10th January local Christians were welcomed in to the Armenian Church, Dhaka for a service conducted by visiting missionaries. Later, a celebration meal was served. It is good to see the church with so many people.

The Mr. Michael Martin Food Assistance Program – 10 January 2019

One of the initiatives undertaken by the Armenian Church in Dhaka is the ‘Mr. Michael Martin Food Assistance Program’. Today the program offered meals to 292 local Dhaka people. It also provided essential milk for 57 hungry babies.

The food assistance program initially ran on a monthly basis, but due to the local high demand for help, it has been offered on a weekly basis since the autumn of 2016.

The church is an intrinsically altruistic institution that will always strive to provide comfort and aid to its surrounding community and visitors.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Visits the Armenian Church, Dhaka

On 5th January, the Armenian Church at Dhaka had the pleasure to receive the U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Earl Miller.

Welcoming Mr. Miller to the church were church staff members Md. Hasnat and Shankar Gosh. During his time here, the Ambassador toured the compound and later signed the visitor’s book.

We are delighted that he was able to make time to visit us and look forward to seeing him again in the coming months.

Wishing all our followers a very happy Armenian Christmas.

Ambassador Miller signing the Church visitor book.

Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project – First Meeting in London, October 2018

Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project - Meeting London October 2018

Armen Arslanian hosting the first informal meeting of Armenian Heritage Project contributors in London.

In a brief visit to London on 18th October Armen Arslanian the Warden of the Armenian Church Bangladesh, held an informal coffee afternoon with some of the newly signed up contributors of the Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project.

The aim of the project is to reach out to the Armenian Diaspora around the globe, particularly those who have family connections to India and Bangladesh.

The project is keen to reconstruct the history and family stories of this once vibrant Armenian community. Whilst in the UK, Armen was delighted to meet with those who could attend the gathering.  Everyone had something to show and share; photo albums with precious images, family documents, and incredible business correspondence that shared the day-to-day trials and challenges of running enterprises in Bangladesh in the late 19th century. The informal and relaxed occasion was full of personal stories, swapping anecdotes and a passion and verve that set the room alive.

Mr Arslanian said: “We started this project 9 months ago and today has been an exceptional milestone for this ambitious venture. The Board of the Bangladesh’s Armenian Church of Holy Resurrection is fully committed to bringing back to life the rich history of the once thriving community here. On behalf of the board of the church, I’d like to thank all our friends who are contributing to this project and particularly to those who attended our first meeting in London. We especially and sincerely want to thank the coordinator, without whom this project would have been unviable. Her contagious enthusiasm and resolute commitment towards the project, coupled with her family history knowledge and expertise has been invaluable.”

The Bangladesh Armenian Heritage Project is still accepting contributions, and is keen to reconstruct the history and family stories of the Armenian presence in Bangladesh. The project has already received material from contributors in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and India.  If you have something you would like included, please get in touch project@armenianchurchbangladesh.com. Or any of their social media pages Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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