Five hundred years is quite a long time at a glance but it counts every single year, month, week, day, and hour, minute and second. We recall now the day when Christian faith was borne and brought by the Portuguese believers to our homeland. Their intention might have been something else but the faith was inseparable from the faithful. Their presence commencing in the 16^th Century (1517 AD) itself spread the fragrance of their faith in and around their habitation. They might have not been the teachers and preachers of the faith but nevertheless, they carried their faith in their heart and soul. Their lives and inhabitation inculcated faith in the mind and heart of others around. It was the sailing ship of Christian faith through sailing ships of trades. Thus, the first stepping stone was placed at the threshold of our mission which has grown up today yielding much fruits.  

Today, our heritage loudly and proudly depicts how the invisible working hands of the Almighty worked through thousands of people to ablaze the love in the hearts of millions of people under the banner of the Cross revealing the highest form of love through laying down their lives to enkindle the light in the soul of the loved ones. Our celebration signifies the heavenly love showered upon every person, place and creation with multiple grace and privilege ushering the way to the zenith of humanity. Our renewal of mind and soul would lead us to the source of our existence enriching our faith to accomplish the mission today according to the signs of time. It is also to flash back to the marching point to strengthen us with the same inspiration to race forward.

Arrival of Faith

The Christian faith arrived in Chittagong, East Bengal, with the arrival of the Portuguese traders who could be the believers in Christianity. Chittagong was the largest sea-port during the reign of Sultans in Bengal, The Portuguese referred to the port city as Porto Grande de Bengala, which meant “the Grand Harbor of Bengal”. The term was often simplified as ‘Porto Grande’.[i] They were frequently visiting the other ports in India through this port. Gradually, they commenced their settlement in and around this port area. The Portuguese court building of Chittagong known as Darul Adalat located now in the premise of Hazi Mohammed Mohshin College[ii] Witnesses to Portuguese settlement in Chittagong.  

A fleet of four ships commanded by Joao da Silveira from the Estado da India arrived in Chittagong on 9 May 1512 from Goa.[iii] They were followed by several embassies from the Kingdom of Portugal to Bengal, and then noticed it as the wealthiest region in the Indian subcontinent. He set up the first Portuguese factory in Bengal at Chittagong in 1517.[iv] Traders from Portugese Malacca, Bombay and Ceylon also travelled to this region.[v] Some sources indicate that Joao Coelho had arrived in Chittagong before João da Silveira. Many Malaccan Portuguese had come to the Bengal before Silveira in Moorish ships as traders. Moreover, some of the Portuguese settled in Pipli (present day Orissa) in 1514 and had visited Bengal.[vi]

In 1528, the Sultan of Bengal permitted the Portuguese to establish factories and customs houses in the Port of Chittagong. A fort and naval base were established in Feringhi Bandar. The settlement grew into the most prominent Eurasian port on the Bay of Bengal. The cartaz system was introduced and required all ships in the area to purchase naval trading licenses from the Portuguese. In 1590, the Portuguese conquered the nearby islands around Sandwip under the leadership of António de Sousa Godinho from Kedar Rai of Sripur.[vii]

[i] Trudy Ring; M. Shalkin Robert: La Boda Sharon, Edited by Trudy Ring, 1996, International Dictionary of Historical Places, p. 188

[ii] From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia: Jump to Navigation Jump to Search.

[iii] Ray Aniruddha; The Portuguese, In Sirajul Islam, Jamal Ahmed A.; Banglapedia, 2012, P.8

[iv] Dasgupta Biplab, European Trade and Colonial Conquest, London, 2005, p. 258

[v] Eaton Richard M.; The Rise of Islam and Bengal Frontiers; 1204-1760; Berckley, 1996, p. 235

[vi] Ray Aniruddha; The Portuguese, In Sirajul Islam, Jamal Ahmed A.; Banglapedia, 2012

[vii] Gin Ooi Keat, ed. Southeast Asia:A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor,vol.I,2004, p. 870

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The number of Portuguese Christians was gradually increasing in Chittagong. In 1598 there were 2500 Portuguese and their descendants in Chittagong and Arakan.  There were also Indian Christians.

Chittagong has been erected as a Diocese on May 25, 1927 detaching from the diocese Dhaka and was entrusted to Holy Cross of Canadian Province. Numerable important and significant events took place during the last 90 years.