Taslima Nasrin Draws Parallels Between Protests in Delhi and Bangladesh's Student Movement

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin has drawn striking parallels between the recent protests in Delhi against exam irregularities and the 2024 student movement that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh. In her remarks, she expressed concerns about the deceptive nature of the student protests in Dhaka, which she believes were influenced by extremist elements. Nasrin's insights shed light on the political turmoil in Bangladesh and the implications for minority communities. As the country navigates through instability, her reflections on these movements prompt a deeper examination of their consequences and the lessons that can be learned.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 08:07 IST

Taslima Nasrin Comments on Recent Protests

On August 2, in Kolkata, exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin highlighted the similarities between the recent protests led by the 'Cockroach People's Party' (Kozpa) in Delhi against exam irregularities and the 2024 movement that ousted Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government. Speaking to reporters, she remarked that the student protests in Dhaka had deceived them, stating, “We were fooled.”

During her address, she mentioned that she was not fully aware of the events occurring at Jantar Mantar, but a brief video clip of the protests reminded her of the student movement in Bangladesh in July 2024.

It is worth noting that just a day prior, an event she attended faced interruptions due to protests from a section of the audience. Taslima expressed, “It was something like this. The student movement in Bangladesh betrayed us.”

She elaborated that they believed the students aimed to abolish the reservation system, and Sheikh Hasina was willing to consider their demands. However, the government eventually fell, revealing that jihadists (Islamic extremists) were behind the movement.

The aftermath of these protests has not been favorable for Bangladesh, as jihadists have seized power. She expressed that the developments following the protests in Bangladesh have heightened her concerns regarding the outcomes of such movements. The author emphasized that lessons should be learned from the 2024 protests in Bangladesh.

A significant protest led by students on August 5, 2024, resulted in the removal of Hasina's Awami League government. Three days later, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge, and since then, Hasina has been living in exile in New Delhi. The country has been experiencing political instability, with minority communities, including Hindus, repeatedly voicing concerns about their safety.

In February of this year, Tarique Rahman, the president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), achieved a historic victory in parliamentary elections, subsequently becoming the Prime Minister.