Kolkata, August 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin has appealed to Bangladesh’s government to lift the ban on the Awami League and allow former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return to the country and participate in the democratic process.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata on Sunday, Nasrin described the removal of Sheikh Hasina from office as undemocratic and argued that banning the Awami League was inconsistent with democratic principles.
“The way Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina has been ousted is wrong. This is not a democratic process. Banning Awami League is also completely undemocratic. The party should be given the opportunity to participate in the elections. I want Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh,” she said.
Nasrin noted that although she had criticised Sheikh Hasina on several occasions in the past, she remained opposed to the prohibition of the Awami League. She urged the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government to facilitate Hasina’s return so she could lead her party and contest elections.
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The writer, who herself has remained in exile from Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, also expressed hope for stronger ties between India and Bangladesh, observing that India had made a significant contribution to Bangladesh’s independence. However, she remarked that no one had invited her to return to her homeland.
Commenting on the political climate in Bangladesh, Nasrin said she believed the influence of religious fundamentalist groups had increased rather than declined. She also expressed concern over the growing role of Jamaat-e-Islami in the country’s politics, saying it would have been preferable if the Awami League had remained the principal Opposition party.
Nasrin further claimed that there was little difference between the governments led by Tarique Rahman and Muhammad Yunus. She alleged that religious minorities, including Hindus, had faced greater persecution during the Yunus administration and criticised the authorities for failing to act against those responsible.
She also alleged that hatred towards non-Muslims is propagated in many madrasas and said Hindus, Buddhists and Christians continue to face persecution in Bangladesh. Emphasising the importance of education, Nasrin said every individual has the right to live with dignity and called for greater investment in education rather than the construction of more temples and madrasas.
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