New Delhi: While expressing relief that the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeM) has been kept out of power in Bangladesh, writer Taslima Nasrin hoped that the political and law and order situation in the country will change for the better under the new prime minister Tarique Rahman.
The huge mandate that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) received in the recently held general elections in the country was not an indication of the party’s popularity, but a reflection of the people’s determination to keep Islamist radicals out of power, she said, in an interview to PTI Videos.
Having “Pakistan-backed radicals” like the JeM as the principal opposition party also does not augur well for democratic and progressive values, she said.
“You saw huge crowds at Jamaat rallies. But that hasn’t translated to votes. BNP’s remarkable results reflect the Bangladeshi people’s determination not to allow Pakistan-backed radicals like Jamaat coming to power. Also, the absence of Awami League made BNP the only viable choice for many voters,” Taslima said.
The BNP, led by the party’s new president Tarique Rahman, won 209 of the 298 seats. Its allies picked up another three seats, giving the block a clear majority in the 299-member Jatiya Sansad (Bangladesh Parliament). The Jamaat and allies won only 77 seats.
Speaking about Rahman, she said: “He has been speaking of taking everyone along, and ensuring security to minorit
ies. Hopefully, the targeting of Hindus that was rampant under the interim government of Mohammad Yunus, will now cease.”
In the free-wheeling interview, Taslima (63) spoke of how she regrets not being allowed to visit Kolkata.
The award-winning writer, who had been exiled from Bangladesh, was forced to leave Kolkata in 2008, following violent protests by the members of the All-India Minority Forum against her book “Dwikhandito.”
“That was during the Left regime. But Mamata Banerjee too has not allowed me to return to Kolkata. For someone so entrenched in Bengali culture, having to live away from Bangladesh and West Bengal is tormenting,” she said.
Taslima drew a sharp contrast between the conditions of the Hindu minority of Bangladesh and Muslims in India. She noted that Indian Muslims have “equal access to all benefits as a Hindu and can take legal recourse when necessary”.
“The Muslim population in India is not declining, and no one from the community thinks of migrating to a Muslim country for a better life…But can you say the same about Hindus in Bangladesh? Their numbers have declined over the years, due to migration and other factors. Very often, they do not approach the courts for fear of persecution when wronged,” she said.
While talking about the Iran situation, Taslima said she is no fan of the “mullah-cracy” that denies equal rights for women, and enforces the hijab, but does not support the military intervention by the US and Israel – that apart from weakening the regime – has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.
“What justification is there to bomb a school and kill over 150 students? If your technology or intelligence is so inaccurate, then better to keep away,” she said, referring to the air strike on a school in the Iranian town of Minab on February 28.