Last Armenian in Bangladesh-The Daily Star

The once thriving Armenian community of Bengal has diminished to the extent that there is only on Armenian in Dakka, which is the capital of Bangladesh.

Michael Joseph Martin is what the English-speaking residents call the only Armenian representing the Armenian community, reports The Daily Star. His Armenian name is Mikayel Hovsep Martirosyan and he is the only Armenian who preserves and takes care of the Holy Ascension Armenian Apostolic Church.

The cemetery located near the church is like a huge book about the history of the Armenian people in that region. The church was built in 1781 and serves as evidence that the Armenians settled in the 17th-18th centuries. They were mainly involved in trade, and the church was built in Armatiol, which is one of the active Armenian-populated areas of Dakka.

Today, the church is almost always closed. Agencies such as BBC and France Press have filmed documentaries about the Armenian church, which has been included in the list of architectural monuments of the government of Bangladesh.

Martin, who takes care of the church, arrived in Dakka in 1942. He is rather old and is concerned about who will be taking care of the church after him. “One of my three daughters might come here from Canada to preserve the Armenian presence in this country after I die,” said Martin in an interview with France Press.

News.am

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