Acclaimed Bangladeshi writer and poet Taslima Nasrin is set to return to Kolkata on August 1 after nearly two decades. She left the city in 2007 due to unrest sparked by her book “Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated).” Nasrin will attend a cultural event at Rabindra Sadan in Central Kolkata, organized by various cultural groups including “Secular Mission.”
Organizers of the event have arranged tight security for Nasrin during her stay in Kolkata. The cultural program will focus on Nasrin’s literary works, with no political agenda involved. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has been invited to the event and has confirmed his attendance.
Osman Mallik, a representative of “Secular Mission,” confirmed Nasrin’s participation in the event through a social media post. Mallik described Nasrin as a symbol of anti-fundamentalist protests and expressed support for her cause. However, Nawsad Siddique, the lone All India Secular Front (AISF) MLA in the West Bengal Assembly, has raised concerns about Nasrin’s visit.
Siddique criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promises and accused them of using Nasrin’s visit as a distraction. He speculated that Nasrin might make anti-Muslim statements during her visit. The 2007 incident, which led to Nasrin’s departure from Kolkata, involved clashes over her novel “Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated)” and resulted in tensions in minority-dominated areas of the city.
