kolkata

Speaking at a press conference at the Bangla Akademi on Sunday, a day after receiving a civic reception at Rabindra Sadan, Taslima said she wanted to attend the upcoming Book Fair if adequate security arrangements were ensured. "Now that the chief minister has promised security, I hope I will be able to attend the Book Fair. I want the old atmosphere. I would sit at the stall, talk to readers and meet many people. I will definitely visit the Book Fair," she said.

Taslima returned to Kolkata on Friday, almost 19 years after she was quietly escorted out of the city on November 22, 2007, following violent protests against her writings. During her earlier visits, the Kolkata International Book Fair was held at the Maidan, but the fair has since shifted to a new venue.

At the press conference, the author spoke on a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh politics, freedom of expression, the Uniform Civil Code, the controversy surrounding poet Joy Goswami and recent student movements. Discussing Bangladesh's political situation, Taslima said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be allowed to return to her country in the interest of democracy. She said that although she had criticised Hasina in the past, the ban on the Awami League should be lifted.

"I have criticised Sheikh Hasina. But the ban on the Awami League must be revoked," Taslima said. She added that Hasina's return appeared more likely than her own and expressed disappointment that different political governments in Bangladesh had not supported her return.

Taslima also spoke about India-Bangladesh relations, saying she hoped for friendly ties between the two countries. She criticised what she described as the rise of extremist thinking in parts of Bangladesh and stressed the need for secular education.

Reflecting on her experiences under different governments in West Bengal, Taslima said, "The first government expelled me. The second government did not let me in. The third government has allowed me to return." She added that she wanted to believe the present government supported freedom of speech and expression.

The author also strongly supported the idea of a Uniform Civil Code, saying equal laws were necessary to protect women's rights. According to her, religious laws often create inequality for women and a common legal framework was needed across the subcontinent.

Speaking about the incident involving poet Joy Goswami at Rabindra Sadan, where a section of the audience protested against his presence citing his alleged closeness to the previous regime, Taslima said she was deeply hurt. She said that differences in political views should not result in anyone being silenced. "It was not just Joy who was insulted. I was insulted as well. We may think differently, but all of us must be allowed to speak," she said.

Taslima also commented on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) student agitation at Jantar Mantar, saying it reminded her of the student uprising in Bangladesh in 2024. However, she cautioned that every student movement does not necessarily lead to positive change and said the outcome of Bangladesh's 2024 protests had not been as expected.

With her return to Kolkata, Taslima Nasrin has once again entered the centre of public discussion, raising issues ranging from literature and freedom of expression to politics and social reform.