People group profile · PG001187
The Mahale of Bangladesh
The Mahale of Bangladesh, numbering about 25,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Munda-speaking people who migrated from Jharkhand's Dumka district to Bangladesh's northern districts in the early 1900s, sharing twelve clans and 80 percent language similarity with the neighboring Santal, traditionally skilled in bamboo basketry.
They are an indigenous people in the Munda-Santal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Santali.

Fast facts
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Population
- 25,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Munda-Santal
- Primary language
- Santali (sat)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 30% or Greater but Less than 40%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mahale are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Mahale
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Protestantism · Christianity
39% adherents
Primary language
Santali · Austroasiatic family
100% speak Santali
Gospel resources in Santali
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mahale
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Mahale in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
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