Same Islamists forced Hasina...: Exiled author Taslima Nasreen

The same Islamists who threw her out have forced Sheikh Hasina to leave Bangladesh, says author Taslima Nasreen, exiled from the country in the 1990s following protests over her book Lajja.

On Monday, Hasina resigned and fled the country amid massive public anger over her government's controversial quota system reserving 30 per cent jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war. More than 400 people have been killed in the protests.

Finding Hasina's situation ironic, Nasreen said in a post 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."

Nasreen has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced criticism from Islamist fundamentalists for her writings on communalism and women's equality in Bangladesh.

Some of her books, including her breakthrough novel Lajja (1993) and her autobiography Amar Meyebela (1998), were banned by the Bangladesh government for their subject matter.

Lajja attracted severe criticism as it detailed violence, rape, lootings and killings of Bengali Hindus after the Babri Masjid demolition in India.

"Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She made Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to involve in corruption. Now Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. Army must not rule. Political parties should bring democracy & secularism," the feminist author said in another post on Monday.

As her country descended into chaos, Hasina fled in a military aircraft and landed in Hindon near New Delhi while the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.

On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told an all-party meeting that India has assured her help and given her time to decide the future course of action.