Home Ministry Extends Bangladeshi Author Taslima Nasreen’s Residence Permit
Residence Permit Extended
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially extended the residence permit of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. This action was taken on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, following Nasreen’s public appeal to Home Minister Amit Shah a day prior, in which she urged him to grant her permission to remain in India. Her residence permit had been pending renewal since July 22.
Upon receiving news of the extension, Nasreen expressed her gratitude to Amit Shah through a post on social media platform X, stating, “@AmitShah, …A world of thanks.”
Public Appeal to the Home Minister
In her appeal, Nasreen addressed Amit Shah directly, stating, “Dear AmitShahji, Namaskar. I live in India because I love this great country. It has been my second home for the last 20 years. But MHA has not been extending my residence permit since July 22. I’m so worried. I would be so grateful to you if you let me stay. Warm regards…”
Background on Taslima Nasreen
Taslima Nasreen is a well-known critic of religious extremism and a proponent of women’s rights. Since 1994, she has been living in exile due to threats from Islamist fundamentalists in Bangladesh, directed at her controversial writings. Notable among her works are the novel ‘Lajja’ (1993) and her autobiography ‘Amar Meyebela’ (1998), both of which tackle the issues of communalism and gender inequality, themes that have led to their banning in her home country.
‘Lajja’ notably sparked controversy for its depiction of violence against Bengali Hindus in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition in India. The novel details incidents of rape, looting, and murder, which triggered a severe backlash from extremist groups.
Life in Exile
After fleeing Bangladesh, Nasreen has spent three decades in exile, residing in various countries including Sweden, Germany, France, and the United States. In 2004, she moved to Kolkata, India, but had to relocate to Delhi in 2007 following an assassination attempt on her life. After enduring a three-month period of house arrest, she left India in 2008 and did not return until several years later.
