New Delhi: Renowned Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen has returned to Kolkata after nearly 19 years, marking her first public
visit to the city since she was forced to leave in 2007 following violent protests over her book Dwikhondito. She is scheduled to participate in a literary event at Rabindra Sadan on August 1, where she received a warm welcome upon her arrival.
Speaking after her arrival, Nasreen said she returned with a mix of happiness and pain, describing Kolkata as much more than just a city. “Kolkata was my home, where my friends and emotions lived. Nineteen years of my life were taken away from me, and no one can return those lost years. Even so, I have not come back as a guest—I have returned as a part of Bengal,” she said.
Nasreen thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the event organisers for ensuring her security and respecting freedom of expression. She is expected to share the stage with Chief Minister Adhikari and noted Bengali author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay during the August 1 programme.
Reiterating her long-standing stand on free speech, Nasreen said the safety and freedom of writers should never depend on the goodwill of governments or the approval of religious groups. She stressed that protecting dissenting voices is the true measure of freedom of expression.
Nasreen was forced into exile from Bangladesh in 1994 after receiving death threats from Islamist extremists over her writings on religion, women’s rights, and secularism. She later left Kolkata in 2007 amid intense protests and security concerns, relocating to New Delhi. Her latest visit marks her first public appearance in Kolkata since then.
