The exiled Bangladeshi author will attend an anti-fundamentalism programme in Kolkata on August 1, nearly two decades after leaving the city.
July 15, 2026: Exiled Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen is set to visit Kolkata on August 1, marking her first trip to the city in nearly 19 years. Nasreen left Kolkata in 2007 following violent protests over her autobiographical book Dwikhandito and has since been living in Delhi on a long-term residence permit. She is expected to attend an anti-fundamentalism programme at Rabindra Sadan, where she will be felicitated, recite her poems, and participate in a discussion.
Her return has sparked a political debate in West Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed her visit, with state president Samik Bhattacharya saying her voice should not be suppressed and referring to her novel Lajja, which depicts the persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh. The party described her return as a significant event after years of controversy surrounding her writings.
Leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), however, questioned the government’s intentions. TMC MLA Akhruzzaman alleged that Nasreen has frequently made remarks against Muslims, while ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui claimed the visit was being used to divert attention from governance issues. The event has once again placed Nasreen at the center of a political and ideological debate in West Bengal.