The arrival of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in Kolkata today has set tongues rolling in the city. The writer, who was in the news recently for her book Dwikhandita (Split in Two), arrived in the city this morning for the publication of the fourth part of her autobiography Sei Sab Andhakar (Those Dark Days) in January-end. ‘‘It will be published at the Kolkata Book Fair. I will visit the fair on each of the 12 days, I am not scared of anything,’’ Taslima, who is staying at a five-star hotel in the city, told The Indian Express. The Kolkata Book Fair runs from January 28 to February 8. While elaborate security arrangements have been made by the state government to provide security to the author, Taslima’s arrival has got some of the hardline Muslim leaders fuming. ‘‘She is poison to society. We will request the state government not to allow her to stay here. Otherwise, we will launch an agitation. We will also not allow her to publish the book at the fair,’’ Siddiqulah Chaudhury, secretary of the Jamaat-e-Ulema-Hind, told The Indian Express. Her new book will be published by People’s Book Society which published Dwikhandita too. Sources say the book dwells on her days in Kolkata after she was banned entry to Bangladesh and her relationship with some of the writers here. ‘‘I am disappointed with the state government for the ban on my book. I did not expect this from Buddhadeb Bhattacharya,’’ she said. ‘‘But I have not yet made up my mind if I’ll meet him.” Sources close to Taslima said she would take legal advice on the defamation case filed by poet Syed Hasmat Jalal in Calcutta HC for certain revelations made by her in Dwikhandita. Meanwhile, the state BJP today defended Taslima’s writings, saying the government banned Dwikhandita with an eye on the CPI(M) vote bank. — (With PTI)
