The official release of controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin's biography 'Nirbasan' was cancelled at the Kolkata Book Fair today because of 'logistical problems'.
But speculation has it that fair organisers Publishers and Booksellers Guild have bowed to the demands of Muslim hawks.
Later, Nasrin tweeted: ''Kolkata Book Fair committee canceled my book release program today at Kolkata Book Fair. Why? Some religious fanatics don't want it to happen.''
The seventh part of 'Nirbasan' was to be released at one of the auditoriums in fair venue, the Milan Mela grounds.
In the morning, Nasrin had responded to a question from 'The Indian Express' on Twitter, stating she could not attend the release function because restrictions on her stay in West Bengal were still in place. ''I am not allowed to enter West Bengal,'' she said.
Asked what she thought about stopping the book release, Nasrin said, ''Kolkata, a city of progressive! A book release even w/o my presence not possible! All political parties, all organisations afraid of fanatics! But how long’.
'Nirbasan' (Exile) talks about her days spent away from her 'adopted city' Kolkata after she was deported from here four years ago.
Convener of the Guild Raju Barman said, ''We didn’t stop it. However, the auditorium where it was supposed to take place was not ready. So, we told them it can’t happen today.''
Nasrin was bundled out of Kolkata in 2007, as protests against a chapter in her book 'Dwikhandito' escalated into a riot-like situation. She has still not been able to return to the city, despite a new government, which as the Opposition in 2007, had strongly criticised the CPI(M) government’s decision to send her away.
