 Statue inside the Holy Resurrection Church of Armanitola | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Negligible | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Dhaka (Armanitola) | |
| Languages | |
| Armenian, English, Bengali | |
| Religion | |
| Armenian Apostolic | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Armenians in India, Armenians in Pakistan, Armenians in Myanmar |
| Part of a series on |
| Armenians |
|---|
 |
| Armenian culture |
| By country or region |
Armenian diaspora |
| Subgroups |
| Religion |
| Languages and dialects |
|
Armenian: Eastern (Zok) • Western (Homshetsi) Sign languages: Armenian Sign • Caucasian Sign Persian: Armeno-Tat Cuman: Armeno-Kipchak Armenian–Lom: Lomavren |
| Persecution |
The Bengal Armenians were ethnic Armenians who lived in what is now called Bangladesh. Their numbers have gradually diminished and there are now no Armenians in the country.
There was a fairly large Armenian colony in Dhaka, concentrated in the neighbourhood of Armanitola, during the early part of the 18th century. The Armenian community played a significant role in Bengali trade and commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Resurrection established by the community in 1781, along with the adjacent cemetery, is a major landmark and tourist attraction of old Dhaka.[1][2]
Their presence, however, began to decline from the beginning of British rule.[3] Michael Joseph Martin (Mikel Housep Martirossian), reported to be the last Armenian in Dhaka, died on 9 May 2020.[4][5][6]
- ^ HAYK, The Ubiquitous Armenian: Dhaka, Bangladesh Archived 7 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Armeniapedia: Armenian Churches in Asia
- ^ Hunter, WW (1875). A Statistical Account of Bengal (Vol. 5). London: Truebner and Co. p. 46.
- ^ "The mission of Dhaka's last Armenian". BBC News. 10 January 2013.
- ^ "End of an era: Bangladesh's last Armenian dies". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Chapple, Amos (26 January 2021). "After 'Last Armenian Of Bangladesh' Dies, The Church He Saved Lives On". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 9 April 2021.