Taslima Nasreen’s Return to Kolkata After Nearly 20 Years Sparks Political Debate
Kolkata: Exiled Bangladeshi writer and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen is set to return to Kolkata after almost two decades, but her visit has already triggered a fresh political controversy in West Bengal.
The 63-year-old author will attend a programme against fundamentalism at Rabindra Sadan on August 1, marking her first visit to the city since she left in 2007 following protests over her writings. Taslima, who lived in Kolkata from 2004 to 2007, currently resides in Delhi with a long-term residence permit.
Her departure from Kolkata came after violent protests erupted over her autobiographical book Dwikhandito (Divided), which was accused of hurting religious sentiments. The then Left Front government had banned the book amid growing tensions.
The upcoming event, organised by three groups, will include a civic reception for the writer, followed by a poetry recitation and discussion session. Several prominent personalities, including political leaders and author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, are expected to attend.
However, Taslima’s return has opened a new political battle in Bengal. BJP leaders welcomed her visit, with state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya saying that her voice should not be silenced and praising her work, including her widely known novel Lajja, which highlights the struggles of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress MLA Akhruzzaman criticised the decision, alleging that Taslima’s views on Islam and the Muslim community were the reason behind the government’s support for her visit.
Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul defended the programme, saying Taslima’s return represents freedom of expression and a recognition of her literary contribution.
Meanwhile, Indian Secular Front MLA Naushad Siddiqui accused the BJP of using the event for political gains, claiming that the controversy was being created to divert attention from other issues.
With contrasting reactions from political parties, Taslima Nasreen’s Kolkata visit has become a major point of discussion ahead of her scheduled appearance on August 1.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
