By IANS
Kolkata : Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen’s visa, scheduled to expire this month, has been extended by six months till February next year.
She is living in exile in Kolkata following a fatwa issued against her by some Islamic groups in Bangladesh for her book “Lajja”.
“We have received a communiqué from the union home ministry stating that Taslima Nasreen’s visa has been extended by six months till February next year,” West Bengal Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy told reporters.
“Taslima had earlier approached us for extension of her visa following which we wrote to the home ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the author arrived here in the evening from Hyderabad where she was attacked by leaders of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, an Islamic political party, at the release of the Telugu translation of her latest novel “Shodh”.
Though she escaped unhurt as she was saved by some participants and journalists at the function, an intellectual received an injury on his face that drew blood.
Officials here said she arrived at the airport around 6.45 p.m. and was immediately bundled into a car under heavy security cover. She refused to speak to journalists at the airport.
State Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) secretary Biman Bose condemned the attack on Taslima. “Such incidents cannot be tolerated in a civilised society,” he said.
Several writers and feminist organisations here also condemned the attack.