There is a proposal that the Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen should return to Bangladesh, her country of birth. The Indian government should no more be bothered for her stay there — not only with visa renewal problem but also for creating at certain intervals law and order problems in places wherever she went inside the Indian territory. Besides, we should thank the Indian central and other provincial governments for giving her special security and offering state guest status during her stay there. 
Bangladesh can now take pride in its neutrality and fairness in rule of law, particularly after the separation of judiciary from the executive. If Taslima Nasreen has broken any law of the land through her actions, writings or otherwise, she can well be prosecuted in due process of law as a citizen of Bangladesh.
MT Hussain
Dhaka
My attention has been drawn to Gopal Sengupta's letter (November 27) about Taslima Nasreen, and the pertinent earlier editorial of the New Age, both of which, in my opinion, are oversimplification of a complex issue. For, neither the pieces have addressed politics involving the case as much as individual responsibility of the author, as the editorial and the Feedback mention theoretical aspects of freedom of speech and citizen's right, but fail to address some bitter truth that require serious scrutiny.
First, the New Age editorial calls for clarification of the incumbent government about its stand on Taslima Nasreen, implying her safe return and personal security in context. However, the editorial failed to point out the fact that no Bangladeshi government had forced her into exile, or that none in the past as well as the current government, has declared her persona non grata. For, Nasreen left Bangladesh on her own choice, with the help of the Swedish government. Thus, her exile is self-imposed.
Moreover, her earlier visit to Bangladesh, as to attend her ailing mother also indicates that the government placed no bar on her return.
In that case, I wonder, why Taslima or her well wishers decry alleged lacking of sensitivity of Bangladesh government. Sure, there is a lower court ruling against her that she must face legally and get herself cleared in due process, as she can neither demand nor expect government intervention to squash a case, especially, when she talks much about legal rights and constitutionalism. Nasreen should not forget that because of inherent secular nature, similar to the Indian, the constitution of Bangladesh also guarantees freedom of speech and she has to fight for to earn it, as during 1960s, Samaresh Bose had earned his right at the Calcutta Court.
Yet, giving up legal course, she prefers to live in India, although numerically more Indians are opposed to her living there than in her native country! Moreover, her admirer's prolixity about her alleged right to live in India falls flat, as they fail to answer the question that when constitutions of both Bangladesh and India guarantee identical political rights, why they prefer her living in India than in Bangladesh.
This question leads to exposure of political dimension of Taslima issue. This politics is being espoused and perpetuated by both the Indian government and the Indian body polity: It is aimed to Bangladesh, masquerading as champion of liberty. For, other than providing lip service, these same Indian polity never bothered to protect or fight for MF Hussein, the reputed artist, who faced numerous provincial government sponsored vandalism, censure, legal action, and harassment to the extent that for personal safety, he went abroad. Ironically, Narendra Modi government brought dozens of formal charges against Hussein, accusing him of offending Hindu sensitivity, but offers sanctuary to Nasreen, while the latter lives comfortably as state guest in New Delhi at the behest of the BJP leadership!
Shibly Azad
New York City, USA
It is unfortunate to read the news about the insult and insecurity of a citizen of Bangladesh in a foreign land. At the end, Taslima Nasreen is a Bangladeshi and she has all the right to return to Bangladesh with full security. I urge Bangladesh Government to take initiatives for her safe return back home. It will ensure the constitutional right of a citizen. No allegation, whatever severe it is, can take away this right.
Let our daughter/sister come back to Bangladesh. Let her be assured that living in Bangladesh securely is her birth-right.
Mizanur Rahaman
On Email
Rev. Bosworth-Smith once said, 'Islam is the most complete, the most sudden and the most extraordinary revolution that has ever come over any nation on earth.' But unfortunately, some Muslims like Taslima Nasreen unreasonably question the precepts of Islam. What's more, she denies outright the existence of any creator. But almost all the scientists now are at one with the fact that life is too difficult to have arisen by chance i.e. without any creator. So when some people vent their anger at one who get succour from the creator but still deny the hand that feeds him/her and play with religious sentiment of teeming millions, I become anything but surprised.
Abdus Subhan
Lalpur, Natore
Indians are giving Taslima, VIP treatment. Good for them. It is the civilised way of doing things. The same standard should also be maintained, when in the future somebody else, writes in a vitriolic fashion on subjects, that the Indians hold sacrosanct. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism or Mahatma Gandhi or the Indian Cricket Team.
BB
On e-mail
Taslima Nasreen, the controversial author of Bangladeshi origin, is currently hiding in a location in India outside the state of West Bengal. Her viewpoints on Islam have not been welcomed by a section of India's Muslim community who demanded her expulsion from the country. But Taslima is not a state-less person as she is staying in India as a citizen of Sweden. She should return to Sweden where viewpoints considered hostile to Islam are tolerated. This was demonstrated during recent months when an artist in Sweden drew a sarcastic cartoon of Prophet Muhammad. While protests broke out against the cartoon by concerned Muslims both inside and outside Sweden, the Swedish government did not condemn the act as it did not want to obstruct the freedom of expression of the artist, however vulgar it may be.
Earlier in 1994 when protests against Taslima's writings took place in Bangladesh, the Swedish government had welcomed her to Sweden where she was received very warmly by the public and the media. She was even accorded a reception by the King of Sweden. Several well-reputed literary awards were bestowed upon her. She is undoubtedly one of the most popular Bengali writers in Sweden.
Under these circumstances, it is appropriate that Taslima should return to her country of present citizenship instead of creating political turmoil in India. She can carry out her literary activities unhindered in Sweden where she has already created a very receptive environment that does not object to defaming Islam.
Rafiq Ahmed
On e-mail
New Age requests readers to send letters and opinions to letters@newagebd.com, newage.feedback@gmail.com or 'Feedback', Holiday Building, 30 Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. All submissions are subject to editing. Letters must be signed and include valid mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number (if any).
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