Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Taslima Nasreen, who has lived in exile in Bangladesh since being ousted by Khaleda Zia’s government, wonders if the ban on her book Lajja – and her 31-year exile – will finally end with the former prime minister’s death.
Reflecting somberly on Khaleda Zia’s death, Taslima Nasreen said the former prime minister had a successful life without much suffering except when Sheikh Hasina imprisoned her for two years.
He goes on to ask whether her death “will not abolish book bans?
Taslima Nasreen said: “Khaleda Zia has died. She was 80 years old. She went from being a housewife to being the head of the party and serving as the prime minister of the country for ten years. She lived a successful life – a long life. Sheikh Hasina kept her in prison for two years; apart from that period, I don’t think she suffered much illness after 198 years. death, won’t the bans on the books she banned be lifted?”
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“She banned my Lajja in 1993. She banned Utal Hawa in 2002. She banned Ka in 2003. She banned Those Dark Days in 2004,” the author said.
“While she was alive, she did not stand up for freedom of speech by lifting the bans on these books. If her death now ends up protecting freedom of speech, then so be it… she unjustly drove me out of my own country. She did not allow me to return home during her rule,” said Taslima Nasreen.
“Will her death end my 31-year sentence of exile? Or will unjust rulers continue their injustice, ruler after ruler, generation after generation?” she asked.
Khaleda Zia, the three-time prime minister of Bangladesh and head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), died today, December 30, in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old.
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 31, and she will be buried with full state honors alongside her husband, the late President Ziaur Rahman.
Funeral of Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia’s funeral will be held after Zohra prayers at South Plaza Parliament Square and adjacent Manik Mia Avenue, legal adviser Asif Nazrul said, quoted by news portal bdnews24.com.
After her funeral, she will be laid to rest with full state honors at Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Also read | Sheikh Hasina condoles death of archenemy Khaled Zia, says ‘her contributions were immense’
Chief Counsel Muhammad Yunus declared a three-day state mourning and a one-day public holiday. In a televised address, Muhammad Yunus announced: “On the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaled Zia, I declare three days of national mourning and a one-day public holiday tomorrow on her Namaz-e-Janaza.
“I know you are all deeply saddened at this time. I hope you will exercise patience during this time of grief and cooperate with all concerned involved in observing the formalities including her Namaz-e-Janaza,” he said.
(Tagtransslate)Taslima Nasreen
