By Admin 
Famous Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, living in exile in London, has strongly criticized former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia after her death on Tuesday (December 30, 2025). Taslima accused Khaleda Zia of taking a stand against freedom of expression and banning many books during her rule. Taslima even said about Khaleda Zia that she had supported Jihadis during her rule.
Taslima Nasreen shared a post on X, in which she criticized Khaleda Zia through sharp words. He also raised the question whether after the death of Khaleda Zia, her 31-year long exile sentence will end and whether the ban will be lifted on those books which were banned during her rule. Taslima also shared the list of some books, which she claimed were banned by Khaleda Zia. This includes Lajja, Utal Hawa, Ka and Doj Dark Days.
What did Taslima Nasreen say in the social media post?
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen said, ‘Khalida Zia is dead. His age was 80 years. She became the party chief from a housewife and then also remained the Prime Minister of the country for 10 years. He lived a successful and long life. Sheikh Hasina kept him in jail for two years, apart from that I don’t think he ever faced much trouble after 1981. Everyone struggles with diseases, she also went through it.
Khaleda Zia has passed away. She was 80 years old. From a housewife she became a party chief, and served as the country’s prime minister for ten years. She lived a successful life—a long life. Sheikh Hasina kept her in jail for two years; apart from that period, I don’t think she…
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) December 30, 2025
She said, ‘I am wondering whether with his death the ban on all the books which he had banned will not be lifted? They should be removed. They banned Meri Lajja in 1993. Banned on Utal Hawa in 2002, Ka in 2003 and Do Dark Days in 2004. When Khaleda Zia was alive, she did not take any step in favor of freedom of expression by removing the ban on these books. If his death now becomes a reason to protect freedom of expression, so be it.
Taslima mentioned the actions taken against her
During this, Taslima Nasreen, while referring to the cases and legal actions registered against her during the reign of Khaleda Zia, said, ‘In the year 1994, while supporting the Jihadis, she filed a case of hurting religious sentiments against a secular, humanist, familist and free-thinking writer.’ Describing herself, she said that Khaleda Zia issued an arrest warrant against that writer. After this, he wrongly expelled that writer, i.e. Taslima Nasreen, from her own country.
He said, ‘During his rule he did not allow me to return to my home, to my country. Will his death put an end to my 31-year-long exile? Or will the unjust rulers continue to commit injustice in this manner, one after the other, generation after generation?’
Also read: Who will attend the funeral of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia from India? name revealed