Haluaghat Deanery and the congregations of this deanery are the fruits of an immense hard work of St. Andrew’s Brotherhood and Sisterhood, since the mission centre was established in Haluaghat. Late Rev. Joynath Chowdhury, Father Panja, Father Mohendra C Chakraborty, Father Bhupal Sarker were the pioneers of Haluaghat deanery.
This deanery is predominately made up of Garo people – a ethnic group has its origin in Tibet and China. The arrival of the Garos in Bangladesh is dated approximately in the middle ages, in the pre-Mughal period. In those days, according to the historians, Garos used to fight between their clans in the Garo Hills and Assam, and during that time, the peaceful minded Garos came down to the plains of Bangladesh, in search of peace.
Like other Deaneries, Haluaghat Deanery organises a Barosavha (Annual Revival Meeting) every year beginning in 1910. The Brothers of St. Andrew’s Mission were the source of inspiration and they took the initiative to start this kind of gathering for a spiritual revival. This has become a well-known social and community event each year.
One significant aspect of the ‘Boro Shova’ of Haluaghat Deanery is that the participants who attend this spiritual meeting along with their family members or groups bring all their food such as, rice, lentils, vegetables and fuel for cooking. They build temporary shelters to spend the night and sleep on straw. The Church of Bangladesh Haluaghat Deanery has about three thousand members in 8 parishes and almost all are from the Garo tribe.