Dhaka (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, O.M.I., Archbishop
Subroto Boniface Gomes, Auxiliary Bishop
Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 19 October 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Bangladesh
Square Kilometers: 12,500 (4,828 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, G.P.O. Box 3, 1 Kakrail Road, Ramna, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Telephone: (02)935.82.47

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal
- Erected: 15 February 1850
- Country: India
Diocese of Eastern Bengal
- Elevated: 1 September 1886
- Country: India
Diocese of Dacca
- Latin Name: Dacchensis
- Name Changed: 1887
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Calcutta
- Country: Bangladesh
Archdiocese of Dacca
- Latin Name: Dacchensis
- Elevated: 15 July 1950
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Bangladesh

Past and Present Ordinaries

Thomas Olliffe † (15 Feb 1850 Appointed - 2 Nov 1855 Succeeded, Vicar Apostolic of Western Bengal)
Peter Dufal, C.S.C. † (3 Jul 1860 Appointed - 28 Jul 1876 Resigned)
Jordan Marie Joseph (Eduard) Ballsieper, O.S.B. † (5 Apr 1878 Appointed - Apr 1886 Resigned)
Augustin Joseph Louage, C.S.C. † (21 Nov 1890 Appointed - 8 Jun 1894 Died)
Peter Joseph Hurth, C.S.C. † (26 Jun 1894 Appointed - 15 Feb 1909 Resigned)
Frederick Franz Linneborn, C.S.C. † (13 Feb 1909 Appointed - 21 Jul 1915 Died)
Amand-Théophile-Joseph Legrand, C.S.C. † (16 Aug 1916 Appointed - 9 Nov 1929 Retired)
Timothy Joseph Crowley, C.S.C. † (9 Nov 1929 Succeeded - 2 Oct 1945 Died)
Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. † (13 Feb 1947 Appointed - 23 Nov 1967 Resigned)
Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. † (23 Nov 1967 Succeeded - 2 Sep 1977 Died)
Michael Rozario † (17 Dec 1977 Appointed - 9 Jul 2005 Retired)
Paulinus Costa † (9 Jul 2005 Appointed - 22 Oct 2011 Retired)
Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C. (22 Oct 2011 Succeeded - 30 Sep 2020 Retired)
Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, O.M.I. (30 Sep 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal
15 February 1850	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (erected)
Diocese of Eastern Bengal
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal	Diocese of Eastern Bengal
Diocese of Dacca
1887	Name Changed	Diocese of Eastern Bengal	Diocese of Dacca
25 May 1927	Territory Lost	Diocese of Dacca (Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal, Gournadi, Narikelbari, Haflong, Badarpur, Akyab, Sandoway, Gyeithaw, and Chaugtha)	Diocese of Chittagong (erected)
3 July 1929	Territory Added	Diocese of São Tomé of Meliapore (Nossa Senhora da Piedade in the city of Daccha, Hashnabad, Tesgonge, and Nagory)	Diocese of Dacca
Archdiocese of Dacca
15 July 1950	Elevated	Diocese of Dacca	Archdiocese of Dacca
17 January 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Chittagong (Sylhet and parts in India) Archdiocese of Dacca (Tripura)	Prefecture Apostolic of Haflong (erected)
Archdiocese of Dhaka
19 October 1982	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Dacca	Archdiocese of Dhaka
15 May 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Dhaka (Mymensingh, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Japalpur, and Sherpur)	Diocese of Mymensingh (erected)
8 July 2011	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Dhaka (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habigganj, and Moulibazar)	Diocese of Sylhet (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Dacca

1950 35,378 18,200,000 .2% 24 38 62 570 21 105 22 ap1951

1970 63,309 25,000,000 .3% 24 33 57 1,110 63 221 26 ap1971

1980 81,169 30,706,000 .3% 26 29 55 1,475 1 66 226 26 ap1981

Archdiocese of Dhaka

1990 56,932 26,347,000 .2% 35 38 73 779 101 360 28 ap1991

1999 68,629 30,148,790 .2% 34 40 74 927 106 563 19 ap2000

2000 70,821 30,157,061 .2% 42 53 95 745 134 573 19 ap2001

2001 70,060 30,170,665 .2% 38 53 91 769 126 498 19 ap2002

2002 66,785 30,258,660 .2% 31 52 83 804 132 508 19 ap2003

2003 73,508 30,563,833 .2% 33 57 90 816 110 526 20 ap2004

2004 74,871 30,574,441 .2% 33 59 92 813 110 544 20 ap2005

2006 79,008 30,581,248 .3% 44 64 108 731 126 562 20 ap2007

2010 79,080 31,210,520 .3% 55 72 127 622 143 560 21 ap2011

2011 62,080 22,948,906 .3% 48 58 106 585 140 530 15 bul8Jun2011

2013 62,780 23,339,945 .3% 52 73 125 502 133 563 18 ap2014

2016 76,072 23,673,082 .3% 44 63 107 710 135 341 19 ap2017

2019 80,487 24,419,640 .3% 48 57 105 766 178 338 24 ap2020

2021 85,014 24,986,650 .3% 56 63 119 714 189 355 29 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Dacca
1950	35,378	18,200,000	.2%	24	38	62	570		21	105	22	ap1951
1970	63,309	25,000,000	.3%	24	33	57	1,110		63	221	26	ap1971
1980	81,169	30,706,000	.3%	26	29	55	1,475	1	66	226	26	ap1981
Archdiocese of Dhaka
1990	56,932	26,347,000	.2%	35	38	73	779		101	360	28	ap1991
1999	68,629	30,148,790	.2%	34	40	74	927		106	563	19	ap2000
2000	70,821	30,157,061	.2%	42	53	95	745		134	573	19	ap2001
2001	70,060	30,170,665	.2%	38	53	91	769		126	498	19	ap2002
2002	66,785	30,258,660	.2%	31	52	83	804		132	508	19	ap2003
2003	73,508	30,563,833	.2%	33	57	90	816		110	526	20	ap2004
2004	74,871	30,574,441	.2%	33	59	92	813		110	544	20	ap2005
2006	79,008	30,581,248	.3%	44	64	108	731		126	562	20	ap2007
2010	79,080	31,210,520	.3%	55	72	127	622		143	560	21	ap2011
2011	62,080	22,948,906	.3%	48	58	106	585		140	530	15	bul8Jun2011
2013	62,780	23,339,945	.3%	52	73	125	502		133	563	18	ap2014
2016	76,072	23,673,082	.3%	44	63	107	710		135	341	19	ap2017
2019	80,487	24,419,640	.3%	48	57	105	766		178	338	24	ap2020
2021	85,014	24,986,650	.3%	56	63	119	714		189	355	29	ap2022