New Delhi. Famous writer and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen says that Islamic fundamentalists are misleading the youth and making them anti-India, anti-Hindu, pro-Pakistan and pro-Jihad, due to which she fears that Bangladesh may become another Afghanistan.
In an exclusive interview to Bhasha, Nasreen said, “When students started protesting against the quota system in July, all of us who talk about women’s rights, human rights and freedom of expression supported them. People were angry with Sheikh Hasina who had always silenced people by appeasing the fundamentalists.” She said that initially the movement against such a dictatorial government seemed right to her in the hope that there would be fair elections in the country and the government would be elected democratically, but this did not happen.
The 62-year-old writer said, “Later we realised that this was not a student movement at all. Islamic fundamentalists planned and funded it. This became clear when they started destroying statues of freedom fighters, museums and national heritage.” She said that when jailed terrorists started being released and Hindus were attacked, the real motive and face of the protesters came to the fore.
Taslima Nasreen had to leave Bangladesh in 1994 following a controversy over her books. The author of ‘Lajja’ has been in exile since then and has been living in India since 2005 (except from 2008 to 2010). She believes that given the way the current interim government is functioning under the guidance of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, she fears Bangladesh may become the next Afghanistan.
According to Taslima, Yunus said that the protesters are celebrating the victory but what kind of celebration is this in which the houses of Hindus are being burnt while the statues related to the Pakistani army which killed lakhs of people and raped women during the war are still intact.
She said, “Yunus knows that the country will be ruled by Jihadis and he has no problem with it. These fundamentalists are hell-bent on making Bangladesh the next Afghanistan or Iran, which is frightening.” She said that Yunus is neither taking any action against such people nor criticizing them. “This does not give any hope for the future.” Taslima Nasreen blamed former Prime Minister Hasina for the current situation and said that the fundamentalists have not suddenly raised their heads.
He said, “Hasina is to be blamed for this as she appeased the fundamentalists to stay in power. She built 560 model mosques and destroyed the education system by making the degrees of madrasas equivalent to university degrees.” He said that people started teaching in universities after studying only Quran and Hadith where instead of studies, ‘waz mehfils’ started happening and burqa and hijab were made compulsory for women. Regarding his personal experience in Bangladesh, he said that now anti-India sentiments are at their peak there.
Taslima said, “Khaleda Zia expelled me from Bangladesh in 1994 and Hasina did not allow me to return to my country after coming to power. In 1998, I went to meet my mother who was dying of cancer, but after her death, Hasina again expelled me from the country and did not allow me to return.” She said that she had a power of attorney to sell her property and get her share of the ancestral property, to get it verified, she knocked the doors of every embassy in Europe, America, India… but everyone refused under Hasina’s influence.
Taslima said, “I am not against Hasina because she harassed me but because she does not believe in freedom of expression. Jihadis have not suddenly raised their heads there but the maximum attacks on Hindus have taken place during Hasina’s rule.” She said that the youth in Bangladesh are being instigated against India and Hindus.
She said, “Now less than seven percent Hindus are left there. They have been attacked during worship, during elections or to take over property. Hasina allowed anti-Hindu, anti-women sermons. When the youth is misled in this way, this new generation will become anti-Hindu, anti-India, anti-women, pro-Pakistan and jihad.” The time spent in Dhaka and Mymensingh and the memories of her loved ones are still fresh in her mind, but Taslima has now given up all hope of returning to her homeland. She is also worried that her visa permit to stay in India has not been extended.
She said, “Khaleeda and Hasina never allowed me to return and now I have no hope in this government which is running at the behest of Jihadis.” Taslima said that since she has been living in India for the last several years, this has now become her home and she wants to stay here. She said, “The surprising thing is that my residence permit has not been extended and there is no information till now. It expired on 27th July. Usually it is extended before the deadline. I do not understand what to do.”