Nineteen Years Later: Taslima Nasreen Recalls The Night She Was Forced To Leave Kolkata
Nineteen Years Later: Taslima Nasreen Recalls The Night She Was Forced To Leave Kolkata Reported By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 09:10 IST For nearly
Nineteen Years Later: Taslima Nasreen Recalls The Night She Was Forced To Leave Kolkata Reported By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 09:10 IST For nearly two decades, the events of 22 November 2007 have remained one of the most painful chapters in the life of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Friday. (PTI) For nearly two decades, the events of 22 November 2007 have remained one of the most painful chapters in the life of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. Even today, when she recounts that night to close friends, the trauma is unmistakable. Her voice may remain composed, but the anguish is still visible. The events unfolded against the backdrop of violent protests in Kolkata. Large parts of the city witnessed unrest as groups protesting Taslima Nasreen’s presence took to the streets, creating a major law-and-order crisis. As the situation deteriorated, the then Left Front government decided that she had to leave West Bengal. According to Taslima Nasreen’s account, the decision was implemented with remarkable speed. On the evening of 22 November, Kolkata Police officials arrived and informed her that arrangements had been made for her departure. She says she was given an airline ticket and escorted to the airport almost immediately. She has recalled that she was not even told where she was being taken.
It was only after boarding the aircraft, she says, that she realised the flight was headed to Jaipur. The uncertainty did not end there. She reached Jaipur late that night and was taken to a hotel where she was temporarily accommodated. The hotel, she has said, felt isolated and insecure. Journalists had already gathered outside, making it evident that her arrival had become known. Around midnight, according to her recollection, the Commissioner of Police visited her room. She says she was informed that she could not remain there and would have to leave immediately. Taslima Nasreen has said that she pleaded to be allowed to return to Kolkata. Instead, she was informed that she would be taken to Delhi. According to her account, police officials told her that the decision had been conveyed by the then Union External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and that the West Bengal government would not permit her return to the state. She has described what followed as one of the longest nights of her life. Escorted by police, she travelled through the night by road from Jaipur to Delhi. With little clarity about what awaited her, she says she had no option but to comply. On reaching the national capital, she was housed at Rajasthan House before being shifted to another secure location. The period that followed marked the beginning of another phase of uncertainty in her life in India.
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