Sheikh Hasina and Taslima Nasreen
Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, a staunch critic of communalism, has spoken out against ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid student-led protests. She called Sheikh Hasina’s decision to flee the country an irony. Nasreen said that Hasina had kicked me out of Bangladesh to “please the Islamists”, and “the same Islamists” who were part of the student movement have now forced Hasina to leave the country herself.
Taslima Nasreen had earlier said in a post, accusing Sheikh Hasina of “raising Islamists” and allowing those involved in corruption to flourish. She also spoke against the army rule in her country and advocated democracy. Taslima said that today “Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was herself responsible for her situation. She allowed Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to get involved in corruption. Now Bangladesh should not become like Pakistan. The army should not rule. Political parties should bring back democracy and secularism.”
taslima’s tweet
Nasreen had to leave Bangladesh in 1994 after fundamentalist organisations issued death threats over her book “Lajja”. The 1993 book was banned in Bangladesh but became a bestseller elsewhere. Jailed Hasina’s arch rival Khaleda Zia was prime minister at the time.
Sheikh Hasina resigned
Bangladesh witnessed its deadliest violent protests on Sunday in which nearly 100 demonstrators died in clashes with police. As a result, protesters vandalised the prime minister’s residence on Monday. In a dramatic turn of events, Sheikh Hasina distanced herself from a direct confrontation and resigned from her post and left the country in a military plane. The country’s army chief called a press conference a few hours later and announced that an interim government would be formed to run the country.
Sheikh Hasina has arrived in India where she landed at Hindon Air Force Base in India, about 30 km from the country’s capital Delhi. According to sources, she is likely to go to London where she may seek asylum. They said her plane was being refueled for a flight to London.
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