Kolkata, 01 August (H.S.): Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata after nearly two decades and attended a poetry recital at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday, where she was welcomed by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The Chief Minister assured her of complete security, saying she was welcome to visit the state whenever she wished.

Addressing the gathering, Adhikari said West Bengal now upholds the values of the Constitution, democracy and freedom of expression. He said everyone has the right to visit the state and express their views freely, adding that Nasrin's return reflected the government's commitment to protecting democratic values, constitutional principles and fundamental rights.

Nasrin had left West Bengal in 2007 after violent protests erupted following the publication of her autobiographical work Dwikhandito. The then Left Front government banned the book, and she was compelled to leave the state amid concerns over law and order. She was not permitted to return during the subsequent Trinamool Congress government.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said the era of intimidation and threats in West Bengal was over. He noted that although he had not been formally invited to the programme, he chose to attend and welcome Nasrin after learning about her visit. He described her as a widely respected author with a large readership and said she would personally experience the changes that had taken place in the state.

In an earlier interview, Nasrin thanked the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for ensuring her security despite the fact that she is not an Indian citizen. She said she appreciated the government's respect for the safety and freedom of expression of a persecuted writer and expressed hope that it would continue to safeguard the rights of writers, artists, women, minorities and people holding diverse opinions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh