Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, a prominent critic of communalism, has expressed her views on the recent departure of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst deadly student-led protests. Nasreen highlighted the irony of Hasina’s exit, recalling how Hasina had expelled her from Bangladesh to appease Islamist factions, the same groups now driving the protests that forced Hasina to leave.
“Hasina, in order to please Islamists, threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered Bangladesh to see my mother on her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the country again. The same Islamists have been part of the student movement that forced Hasina to leave the country today,” Nasreen stated in an online post.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on a military aircraft and is expected to travel to London to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.
Nasreen criticized Hasina for allowing Islamist factions to flourish and for tolerating corruption within the government. She also expressed her opposition to military rule in Bangladesh, advocating for democracy and secularism.
“Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She allowed Islamists to grow and let her people become involved in corruption. Now Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. The army must not rule. Political parties should bring democracy and secularism,” Nasreen stated in an earlier post.
Nasreen was forced to leave Bangladesh in 1994 following death threats from fundamentalist groups in response to her book “Lajja.” The 1993 book, which was banned in Bangladesh but became a bestseller elsewhere, criticized communal violence.
At the time, Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina’s political rival, was the prime minister. Nasreen has lived in exile since then.
Bangladesh experienced one of its deadliest demonstrations on Sunday, with nearly 100 protesters killed in clashes with police. Following the unrest, protesters breached the prime minister’s residence on Monday. Sheikh Hasina had already resigned and left the country to avoid a direct confrontation.
The country’s army chief later held a press conference, announcing the formation of an interim government.
Sheikh Hasina landed at the Hindon Air Force base in India, approximately 30 km from Delhi, and is likely to depart for London, where she may seek asylum. Sources indicated that her plane was being refueled for the flight to London.
