Keep visiting Kolkata, your safety is my responsibility, West Bengal CM tells Taslima
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has publicly welcomed exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin back to Kolkata, promising her state-provided security. This event marks her return to the city after 19 years of exile following protests and threats against her work.
Why it matters
The return of a controversial literary figure to Kolkata signals a potential shift in the political climate and the state government's stance on freedom of speech.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday (August 1, 2026) assured exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin of security in the State, saying the “days of threats are over”.
Sharing the stage with Ms. Nasrin at Kolkata’s Rabindra Sadan at an event that marked the writer’s return to the city after 19 years, Ms. Adhikari said: “You are most welcome to Bengal. Please come here whenever you want and as many times as you wish. Your safety is my responsibility.”
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