Kolkata, Jan 12
Saying that fundamentalism had destroyed the country, exiled
Bangladeshi writer Taslim Nasrin prayed for a new secular leadership
in Bangladesh to bring the country out of its present sorry state.
"We can only hope that people, who are pushed to the brink, would
hit back with a revolt. There is a need for a new secular leadership
to take the country forward," Nasrin told IANS in an exclusive
interview Thursday night soon after a state of emergency was
declared in Bangladesh in the run-up to a general elections on
January 22.
"Fundamentalism has destroyed the country. And unfortunately you
cannot blame the fundamentalists alone. They are supported by the
political parties. There is now hardly any difference between the so
called secular and non-secular groups," Taslima said.
"Now even the Awami League has joined hands with the
fundamentalists. They are talking about bringing blasphemy laws,
they are talking about issuing fatwas (religious decrees). So where
do we stand?" asked Taslima, who had to flee her native country in
1994 after her book, "Lajja" (or Shame), dealing with the
plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, angered Muslim hardliners who
threatened to kill her.
"The country is going to bonkers and nobody cares. There is a need
for revolution in Bangladesh. There is a need for a new leadership.
But how that will emerge I don't know because even intellectuals are
surviving under political umbrellas," Nasrin said.
"Bangladesh is one of the most corrupt countries and the disparity
between the rich and the poor is huge. But despite corruption and
the present state I hope that democratic process would return," she
said.
"All I can bank upon now is only hope. It is a glimmer of hope that
people will hit back when they would be against the wall," Taslima
said.
Taslima went into hiding in 1994 and then fled Bangladesh with
support from international human rights organizations like PEN and
Amnesty International and was given asylum in Sweden. Since then she
has lived in Germany, France, the United States and Kolkata in West
Bengal.
(c) Boloji.com :
1999–2008 : All
Rights Reserved Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
