Sheikh hasina was the prime minister then.

Her plea to return follows the poll victory of Hasina's Awami League last December. The new government has pledged to crack down on Islamic militancy.

'As there is no true secular political party in the country, it is the only party we have pinned our hopes on. There is no alternative,' Taslima said.

'I hope I would be able to return to my country during Hasina's term. If I can't go back now, I am afraid whether I will ever be able to in future. I hope good sense would prevail,' she said.

Taslima was forced to leave her adopted home in India's Kolkata city in November 2007, after receiving fresh death threats from radical Indian Muslims.

After several months in hiding under Indian government's protection, Nasreen fled to Sweden in March last year, where she was offered a two-year safe haven in the town of Uppsala, a monthly allowance and an apartment.

The author said she pined for her own country.

'I have been living in exile for 15 years. They are punishing me for crimes the Muslim fanatics committed against me. I have been to almost all Bangladesh embassies in the West to get my passport renewed,' Taslima said.

'I was born in Bangladesh and as a citizen it is my legal right to be able to live in Bangladesh. My right has been violated time and again. They have never given me any reason for imposing the ban,' she said.