After 16 years, Taslima Nasreen returns to Kolkata: CM assures full security
Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen made her first public visit to Kolkata in nearly two decades on Friday, describing her return as an emotional homecoming. The next day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured her of full security during future visits, saying the “days of threat culture are over.”
Speaking at a felicitation event in Kolkata attended by Nasreen on Saturday, Banerjee said the writer should feel free to visit West Bengal as often as she wishes. “Come to Bengal as many times as you want. It is my duty as CM to provide you with security whenever you visit Bengal,” Banerjee said.
Nasreen, who fled Bangladesh in the 1990s after receiving threats over her writings, took refuge in India and lived in Kolkata for several years. She left the city in 2007 following widespread protests against her memoir “Dwikhandito” (“Split in Two”).
The book had been banned by the then Left Front government in West Bengal in 2003 on the grounds that it allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of a section of the Muslim community. The ban and the protests that followed eventually forced Nasreen to leave Kolkata, where she had been living in exile.
On her return, Nasreen said coming back to Kolkata felt like returning to “my own country.” Her visit has reignited discussions on freedom of expression, the treatment of exiled writers, and West Bengal’s political climate. Banerjee used the occasion to assure her of protection during future visits to the state.
Nasreen is a controversial figure in South Asia, known for her outspoken views on religion and women’s rights. Her writings have drawn both praise and criticism, and she has lived in exile for over two decades.
The Chief Minister’s assurance comes amid broader debates in India about censorship and artistic freedom. While some have welcomed Nasreen’s return as a sign of a more open society, others have expressed concern about the polarising nature of her work.
Banerjee’s remarks were seen as an attempt to position West Bengal as a welcoming destination for writers and intellectuals. “The days of threat culture are over,” she said, adding that the state respects the rule of law and dissent.
Nasreen’s itinerary in Kolkata includes meetings with writers, publishers, and artists. Her visit is being closely watched by literary circles and political observers alike, as it highlights the complex interplay of free expression, religious sensitivities, and state policy in India.
