Taslima Nasreen Returns to Kolkata Advocating for Uniform Civil Code

Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasreen returned to Kolkata on July 31, 2026, marking her first public visit to the city since being forced to flee in 2007 following violent protests over her memoirs. She was formally welcomed by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who guaranteed full state-backed security for her visit, stating that her return proves the administration's commitment to protecting the Constitution and freedom of speech.

During a press conference on August 2, Nasreen advocated for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to eliminate gender-based discrimination and religious persecution. She specifically noted that Hindu women in Bangladesh lack basic legal protections, including equal inheritance and divorce rights. Her remarks coincided with the West Bengal government's announcement of a nine-member expert committee, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to finalize a draft UCC for the state.

Nasreen also criticized the interim government of Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus, characterizing the ban on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League as a move against democracy. She condemned the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party for opposing women's equality and seeking Sharia rule, and called for the abolition of madrasas, alleging they can produce jihadists. While Nasreen praised the current BJP-led government of India for supporting freedom of speech, she noted the irony that a writer still requires high security to visit a city of her own language.