DACCA, Diocese of. — It is a suffragan see of Calcutta and is entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Cross. It covers an area of 44,485 sq. km. with a population of 18 million, of whom 13,650,000 are Muslims, 4,300,000 pagans, 35,000 Catholics, and 12,000 Protestants. It originated from the former Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Bengal. On 1 September 1886 it was erected as a diocese. By the Additional Convention between the Holy See and Portugal (29 June 1929), four parishes of the Diocese of São Tomé de Meliapore were annexed to the Diocese of Dacca.
It is situated in East Pakistan (East Bengal) and comprises the civil districts of Dacca, Pabna, Mymensingh, Tippera, and the small former independent State of Hill Tippera. There are 30 priests working in the diocese, along with 15 Brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and 25 indigenous priests. In the minor seminary, about 20 students are enrolled, while others study at the major seminary in Ranchi. There are 22 parishes. There are also about 50 foreign sisters and an equal number of Indian sisters engaged in schools and charitable institutions: one hospital, eight orphanages, a kindergarten, and numerous dispensaries. There are 100 catechists, 37 female catechists, 186 teachers, and 107 female teachers, with more than 10,000 boys and girls enrolled in various schools. There are about 500 conversions annually. It borders the dioceses of Chittagong, Krishnagar, Dinajpur, and Shillong.