Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen publicly appealed to India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, urging him to extend her residence permit. In a post shared on her official X account, Nasreen expressed concern over the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) not renewing her permit since July 2022, despite her long-standing ties to the country.

"Dear AmitShahji Namaskar. I live in India because I love this great country. It has been my 2nd home for the last 20yrs. But MHA has not been extending my residence permit since July22. I'm so worried. I would be so grateful to you if you let me stay. Warm regards," Nasreen wrote.

Who is Taslima Nasreen?

Taslima Nasreen is a prominent Bangladeshi writer known for her bold criticism of religious extremism, patriarchy, and censorship. Her works have sparked controversy, particularly in her home country, where her views led to her exile in the 1990s. Nasreen’s most notable work, Lajja, published in 1993, examined the violence faced by a Hindu family during communal unrest, drawing severe backlash from conservative Islamic factions. This culminated in a fatwa being issued against her and her eventual arrest in 1994 under Sheikh Hasina's government.

Forced into exile, Nasreen sought refuge in various countries before moving to India in 2004, first residing in Kolkata. However, her stay in the city was short-lived due to threats from fundamentalist groups. The pressure mounted during 2004-2007, forcing her expulsion from Kolkata, and the banning of her book Dwikhandito further complicated matters. For a brief period, she lived in Sweden before eventually settling in India.

Since 2011, Nasreen has been living in New Delhi on a long-term residence permit that requires annual renewal. Despite her deep ties to India, she has faced repeated obstacles in obtaining extensions on her stay. Her current request to the Indian government echoes similar appeals made in the past through interviews and social media posts.

Nasreen Criticizes Hasina's Ouster

Taslima Nasreen has been vocal about her disdain for Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. Following Hasina’s removal from office in August, Nasreen pointed to the former Prime Minister’s close ties to Islamist groups, which she believes contributed to her downfall.

Nasreen accused Hasina of bowing to Islamist pressure by expelling her from Bangladesh in 1999 when she attempted to return to visit her dying mother. Nasreen stated on X, “Hasina, in order to please Islamists, threw me out of my country and never allowed me to return. The same Islamists in the student movement have now forced her to leave.”

Nasreen further criticized Hasina’s governance, attributing the current political unrest to her failure to curb corruption and extremism. "She is responsible for her predicament. She fostered the growth of Islamists and allowed corruption to flourish. Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan; the army should not rule. Political parties must restore democracy and secularism," Nasreen remarked.

The exiled author remains a polarizing figure, both for her critiques of Islamic conservatism and for her outspoken stance against political suppression in Bangladesh. Despite facing ongoing struggles, she continues to advocate for secularism and freedom of expression in the region.