Sheikh Hasina threw me out to please Islamists and now she is forced to leave Bangladesh: Exiled author Taslima Nasreen
Kolkata/IBNS: Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslina Nasreen has pointed out an "irony" in her dig at Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as the Prime Minister and fled the country in the face of violent anti-quota protests in Dhaka.
Taslima said Hasina faced the same fate which she was made to accept in 1999.
The exiled author wrote 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."
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
Taslima, who is known for writing on women's oppression and communalism, has been banned from both Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
She has been living in multiple exiles since 1994 with several fatwas calling for her death.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has declared the dissolution of the Parliament and the formation of an interim government to facilitate prompt elections in the country which is witnessing severe anti-government protests that triggered former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation.
Hasina, the longest serving Prime Minister of the country who returned to power for another term following a landslide victory in the general polls this year, fled the country amid violent anti-quota protests and arrived in India on Monday.
Photo Courtesy: PID Bangladesh/Wikimedia Commons
Reportedly, Hasina, who shares good terms with New Delhi, is still in India. After escaping the nation amid violence, Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Hindon airbase in India's Ghaziabad city.
After arriving in India he met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Sources told The Indian Express she was taken to a “safe house”, and is likely to travel to the United Kingdom (UK).
What happened on Monday?
On Monday, the 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister was forced to resign from her position after more than 300 people died in violent protests over a quota for government jobs in that country.
The Bangladesh Army, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government couldn't control the violence, took charge of the country.
In a televised address Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an "interim government" and told protesters to stand down.
"There is a crisis. I have met Opposition leaders and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence," the Army chief said.