CM Suvendu Adhikari assures exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin of security, says she can visit Bengal whenever she wants
Taslima Nasrin, who left Kolkata in 2007 due to protests against her writings, highlighted the protection of fundamental rights in West Bengal under current government
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin of complete security for her visits to the state, welcoming her return and emphasising the protection of freedom of speech and fundamental rights under the new government. The author, speaking at an anti-fundamentalism event, recounted the painful experience of leaving Kolkata 19 years ago.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin of complete security for her visits to the state, welcoming her return and emphasising the protection of freedom of speech and fundamental rights under the new government. The author, speaking at an anti-fundamentalism event, recounted the painful experience of leaving Kolkata 19 years ago.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin of complete security for her visits to the state, welcoming her return and emphasising the protection of freedom of speech and fundamental rights under the new government. The author, speaking at an anti-fundamentalism event, recounted the painful experience of leaving Kolkata 19 years ago.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday assured exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin of full security whenever she plans to visit the state.
"Not just once, whenever you wish, come to West Bengal as many times as you want. You will receive complete security. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is responsible for your safety in West Bengal,” the CM assured Taslima Nasrin.
Addressing a literary event on anti-fundamentalism at Rabindra Sadan, where Nasrin spoke about standing up to fundamentalist ideologies, the CM said, "Everyone has freedom of speech. Today, the much loved and respected writer Taslima Nasrin has come for this programme which has proven that the fundamental rights of Bengal are protected under the new government. Threats and intimidation will not survive here, it is a thing of the past."
The CM said he came to the event specially to meet Nasrin. "I came when I heard that Taslima Nasrin was coming. I am not only the Chief Minister of the state, but also in charge of the Information and Culture Department. I welcome her, on the centenary of Vande Mataram," he said.
The Bangladeshi author spoke about the pain of exiting Kolkata during the Left Front rule and now coming back after 19 years. Nasrin blamed the Left and fundamentalists for keeping the minority community in the dark. "My fight is not against any individual, but against evil opinions," she said.
The author remembers the pain of leaving Bangladesh and describes it as the failure of their government, which instead of protecting her filed police complaints against her. "I have committed no crime but advocated for equal rights through my writings," added the author.
Nasrin’s writings have raised controversy among a section of the minority community in Bangladesh and Kolkata that believes her writings are derogatory. After leaving Kolkata in 2007, Nasrin was taken through Jaipur to Delhi secretly after violent protests broke out in Kolkata. The author then lived overseas and in Delhi. Her visit to Kolkata is a homecoming of sorts and the author hopes to meet her friends and fellow writers during her stay in the city.