Kolkata, July 31 -- Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen arrived at Kolkata airport on Friday after nearly 19 years.

Speaking to reporters after her arrival, Nasreen said, "I'm feeling very good, thank you all... thank you, everyone."

The writer and activist, who has been living in exile since 1994, had previously said she had been invited to the city by an organisation called Secular Mission, headed by Osman Gani Mallik.

Mallik, who was present at the airport along with BJP MLA Sourav Sikdar, said Nasreen had been forced to leave Kolkata in 2007 and recalled the protests that followed over her memoir. Nasreen's book Dwikhondito (Split into Two) was published in 2003.

"Sister (Taslima Nasrin) was forced to leave Kolkata with a heavy hea...