Aakhir Tak – In Shorts
- Bangladeshi author-activist Taslima Nasreen thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for helping with her residency permit renewal.
- Taslima, who has been living in India for 20 years, requested an extension of her residency on Monday.
- Amid rising Islamist extremism in Bangladesh, Taslima described India as her second home.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth
Exiled Bangladeshi author and activist Taslima Nasreen expressed gratitude to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday after seeking assistance with her residency permit renewal. Nasreen, who fled to India 20 years ago, had raised concerns on Monday over her residence permit, which had been pending renewal since July 22. She posted an emotional appeal on X (formerly Twitter), calling India her “second home” and requesting help.
“A world of thanks,” Nasreen wrote, highlighting her deep appreciation for Amit Shah’s response. The author, who fled Bangladesh in the 1990s due to death threats from Islamic extremists following the publication of her novel Lajja, has been in exile since then. Her permit renewal request came in the context of growing radicalism in Bangladesh, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
In her appeal, Nasreen said, “I live in India because I love this great country. It has been my second home for the last 20 years.” With rising concerns about Islamist control in Bangladesh under the caretaker government led by Muhammad Yunus, Nasreen has continued to voice her opposition to these developments. The government recently lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, causing further unrest for minority groups, especially Hindus.
Having resided in India since 2011, Nasreen holds Swedish citizenship but has been granted a long-term residency permit by India. Her gratitude towards Amit Shah highlights her relief, signaling that she can continue calling India her home for some time longer.
