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Taslima wants fundamentalism tackled

Special Correspondent

Says there is strong disenchantment with the political class as a whole

KOLKATA: "The drive against corruption by the military-backed caretaker government in Bangladesh is welcome but what remains to be seen is whether it is equally keen on tackling fundamentalism," Bangladesh writer Taslima Nasrin, told The Hindu here on Wednesday.

"There is strong disenchantment with the political class as a whole. A ray of hope has emerged but secular democracy is still a far cry in that country. Its supporters have their back to the wall; so much so that they would welcome a secular dictatorship that will continue to combat corruption in high political circles as well as uproot the scourge of fundamentalism," Ms. Nasrin said.

Ms. Nasrin, who was forced to leave her country in 1994 for her writings against religious fundamentalism, said that despite some of the sweeping changes being made by the present Bangladesh Government she was still not sure whether it will accept her back in to the country and provide her the necessary security. "I will wait for some more time before considering seeking a renewal of my passport at the Bangladesh Embassy."

On the political developments in her country, she said: "Though I believe in democracy the political leadership in that country has been steeped in corruption for so long that I welcome any drive against it by any authority which seeks to tackle the reasons behind it as well as those that give rise to fundamentalism."

On the exile of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, and the murder charges brought about by the caretaker government against another former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, she said: "it appears that the Army is unforgiving of any leader against whom there were corruption and other criminal charges. But what about those who have provided shelter to fundamentalists?"

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