'You brought me back to my lost life': Taslima Nasrin's emotional speech in Kolkata

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, who returned to Kolkata after a gap of 19 years on Friday, delivered an emotional speech on Saturday in which she thanked the city for embracing her once again. "Today, you did not just bring me back to Kolkata. You brought me back to my lost life," she said. The event, attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, marked Nasrin's first public address in Kolkata since leaving the city in 2007. During her speech, she thanked Adhikari and the West Bengal government for ensuring her security, while stressing that her gratitude should not be mistaken for political allegiance.Speaking at a public event in Kolkata, Nasrin reflected on decades of exile from both Bangladesh and West Bengal, saying her return was more than a personal milestone. She called it a reminder that "closed doors do not remain closed forever" and said the day represented a victory of free thought over fear and censorship.