Exiled Writer Taslima Nasrin Returns to Kolkata, Calls for Uniform Civil Code

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin returned to Kolkata on July 31, 2026, after nearly 19 years. During her visit, Nasrin advocated for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, stating that such laws are essential to protect women from discrimination and persecution. Her remarks coincide with the West Bengal government's decision to form a high level committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to examine a draft UCC Bill for the state.

Nasrin was welcomed at a state government event at Rabindra Sadan on August 1, where she shared the stage with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The Chief Minister assured Nasrin of her security in the state and stated that the days of threats are over. Nasrin expressed gratitude for the government's help in her return, noting that she had been forced to leave the city in 2007 due to violent protests during the Left Front government. She clarified that her gratitude was not an allegiance to any political party, but rather a commitment to women's liberty and freedom of speech.

During a press conference on August 2, Nasrin criticized madrasas, alleging that some produce jihadis and are sites of child abuse and rape. She argued that secular schools should replace these religious institutions. Nasrin also spoke out against an incident at her felicitation ceremony where the crowd prevented poet Joy Goswami from speaking. She described the disruption as an insult to both her and the poet, emphasizing that everyone should be allowed to express their views.

Reporting on the event varied by political lean. Center left sources highlighted Nasrin's calls for the ban of madrasas and her criticisms of the Yunus regime in Bangladesh. Center right coverage focused more heavily on her arguments regarding the legal rights of Hindu women in Bangladesh and her praise for Kolkata's democratic values.