Taslima Nasrin to visit Kolkata on August 1 after 19-year exile
Synopsis
After 19 years, Taslima Nasrin is returning to Kolkata — the city that once deployed the army over her novel. Her 1 August appearance at Rabindra Sadan has drawn state-level security assurances and sharp political pushback, making it one of the most charged cultural events West Bengal has seen in years.
Key Takeaways
Taslima Nasrin will visit Kolkata on 1 August for the first time in 19 years .
She will attend a cultural programme at Rabindra Sadan , organised by groups including Secular Mission .
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has reportedly consented to attend the event.
State police have assured 'watertight' security for Nasrin during her stay, according to organiser Mohit Roy .
AISF MLA Nawsad Siddique has opposed the visit, calling it a political distraction by the BJP.
Nasrin was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007 after violent unrest over her novel 'Dwikhandito' ; an informal ban on her presence persisted until at least 2016 .
Acclaimed Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin is set to visit Kolkata on 1 August for the first time in 19 years, ending a long absence that began after violent unrest erupted in the city in 2007 over her novel 'Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated)'. The visit marks a significant moment for free-speech advocates who have long campaigned for her return to West Bengal.
The Cultural Programme
Nasrin will attend an event at Rabindra Sadan in central Kolkata, organised by a coalition of cultural groups including Secular Mission. The programme will focus on her novels, stories, and poems. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has reportedly been invited and has given his consent to attend.
Security Arrangements
Organiser Mohit Roy confirmed that the state police administration has assured 'watertight' security for Nasrin throughout her stay, acknowledging that her safety remains a primary concern. Osman Mallik, a Calcutta High Court counsel and representative of Secular Mission, confirmed Nasrin's attendance in a social media post, writing that 'the prolonged waiting is over' and that she is arriving 'defeating all reactionary forces.' He described Nasrin as a 'fiery symbol of anti-fundamentalist protests.'
Political Opposition
Nawsad Siddique, the lone All India Secular Front (AISF) MLA in the West Bengal Assembly, has expressed reservations. Siddique told reporters that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had come to power on promises of the Annapurna Yojana, electricity, and women's safety, all of which he claimed had failed. He argued that Nasrin's invitation was a deliberate distraction from those failures, and questioned what she would contribute, alleging she would 'make some anti-Muslim statements and then go back.'
Background: The 2007 Crisis
In 2007, the publication of 'Dwikhandito' triggered violent unrest across minority-dominated neighbourhoods in Kolkata, forcing the administration to deploy the army. The Left Front government under then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya banned the book's circulation in the state and effectively asked Nasrin to leave. Notably, the informal ban on her presence persisted even under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government from 2011 to 2016, underscoring how politically sensitive her return has remained across party lines.
What Comes Next
The 1 August event at Rabindra Sadan will be closely watched by civil society groups and political observers alike. Whether the programme proceeds without incident could set a precedent for how West Bengal — and the Centre — navigate the intersection of free expression, minority sentiment, and electoral politics going forward.
Point of View
Meanwhile, is being read through an electoral lens by opponents, and not without reason: the optics of 'free expression versus minority sentiment' are precisely the kind of wedge that has defined Bengal's political theatre for years.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Taslima Nasrin visiting Kolkata after 19 years?
Nasrin is returning to Kolkata on 1 August to attend a cultural programme at Rabindra Sadan organised by groups including Secular Mission, which focuses on her literary work. She left the city in 2007 after violent protests erupted over her novel 'Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated)' and was effectively asked to leave by the then state government.
What happened in Kolkata in 2007 that forced Taslima Nasrin to leave?
In 2007, the publication of Nasrin's novel 'Dwikhandito (The Bifurcated)' triggered violent unrest in minority-dominated neighbourhoods across Kolkata, prompting the administration to deploy the army. The Left Front government under Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya banned the book's circulation and asked Nasrin to leave the state.
Who is organising Taslima Nasrin's Kolkata event?
The event at Rabindra Sadan on 1 August is organised by a coalition of cultural groups, one of which is Secular Mission. Osman Mallik, a Calcutta High Court counsel and Secular Mission representative, confirmed Nasrin's participation in a social media post.
What security arrangements are in place for Taslima Nasrin's visit?
According to organiser Mohit Roy, the West Bengal state police administration has assured 'watertight' security for Nasrin throughout her stay in the state, given concerns about her safety.
Who has opposed Taslima Nasrin's return to Kolkata?
AISF MLA Nawsad Siddique, the lone All India Secular Front legislator in the West Bengal Assembly, has opposed the visit. He argued that the BJP is using Nasrin's return to distract from its unfulfilled promises on welfare schemes, electricity, and women's safety.
