West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari extended reassurances to exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen regarding her safety during her visits to the state. Speaking at a felicitation event in Kolkata on Saturday, Adhikari declared that the “days of threat culture are over,” inviting her to visit freely.
“The days of threat culture are over. Come to Bengal as many times as you want. It is my duty as CM to provide you with security whenever you visit Bengal,” Adhikari stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring Nasreen’s safety.
This statement came just a day after Nasreen marked her first public visit to Kolkata in almost two decades, describing her return as an emotional homecoming.
Taslima Nasreen returned to Kolkata on Friday, her first public appearance in the city since 2007, which had seen widespread protests against her memoir Dwikhandito that compelled her to leave the region. She expressed that being back in Kolkata felt like returning to “my own country.”
Her memoir, Dwikhandito (which translates to “Split in Two”), was banned by the previous Left Front government in West Bengal in 2003. The ban was enacted on the grounds that the book allegedly offended the religious sentiments of some Muslims. This prohibition and the ensuing protests forced Nasreen into exile from Kolkata.
Nasreen’s latest visit has reignited vital discussions around freedom of expression, the treatment of exiled writers, and the political landscape of West Bengal. Adhikari seized the moment to reaffirm his pledge of protection to her during any future visits.
