Taslima Nasreen, the Bangladeshi author living in exile since 1994, has highlighted the irony in the situation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s escape during violent student-led protests.
Nasreen, a vocal critic of communalism, remarked that Hasina had expelled her from Bangladesh to appease Islamists, and now those same Islamists were part of the protests that forced Hasina to flee.
“Hasina in order to please Islamists threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered Bangladesh to see my mother in her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the country again. The same Islamists have been in the student movement who forced Hasina to leave the country today”, said Nasreen on X.
Hasina in order to please Islamists threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered Bangladesh to see my mother in her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the country again. The same Islamists have been in the student movement who forced Hasina to leave the country today.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) August 5, 2024
She also accused Hasina of allowing the rise of Islamists and their involvement in corruption.
On X she wrote, “Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She made Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to involve in corruption. Now Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. Army must not rule. Political parties should bring democracy & secularism.”
Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She made Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to involve in corruption. Now Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. Army must not rule.Political parties should bring democracy & secularism.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) August 5, 2024
A staunch advocate for women’s rights, freedom of thought, and human rights, Nasreen was compelled to leave Bangladesh after threats from Islamist radicals over her book ‘Lajja’ (Shame).
The book, which portrays the plight of a Hindu family during the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, was banned in Bangladesh. Despite the ban, it sold over 45,000 copies within six months. Originally published in Bengali, ‘Lajja’ has been translated into English, Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, and various Indian languages including Hindi, Oriya, Marathi, Telugu, Assamese, Punjabi, and Kannada.
Nasreen has resided in the US, Europe, and India over the past two decades, often expressing her desire to permanently settle in India, particularly in Kolkata. She was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007 due to violent protests by Islamists against her work.
Notably, Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister following extensive protests that resulted in over 300 deaths. After the Bangladesh Army issued a 45-minute ultimatum, Hasina departed for India. She arrived at Hindan Airbase in Ghaziabad and is expected to remain in India until she receives asylum from the UK.
India will provide significant logistical support to assist with her relocation. Her time in India is temporary and contingent upon her subsequent move to Britain. The UK government has not confirmed if it will provide political asylum to the ex-Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Hasina, along with her sister Rehana, who is a UK citizen, is seeking asylum in the UK.
