Dhaka: Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by a court for casting aspersions on Islam, a media report said on October 13.

A court in Gopalganj sentenced the self-exiled writer on October 12 for hurting religious feelings in her books, including 'Lajja' (shame), 'The Daily Ittefaq' reported.

Nasreen, 40, who has drawn flak from Islamists for her writings, was sentenced to jail by Magistrate Shah Alam if she returns to Bangladesh, three years after the case was filed by one Dabiruddin Azad.

The physician-turned writer fled Bangladesh in early nineties after her novel 'Lajja' (Shame) which described persecution of Hindu community by Bangladesh's Muslim majority, triggered protests by Islamists and was banned.

She has since been staying in India and Europe.

Her latest novel 'Uta Hawa' (Gusty Wind) was also banned this year.

She is reported to have come back to India and is now living in Kolkata.

Taslima is the second Bangladesh writer forced to live in exile to avoid harassment and repression. Daud Haider, a renowned poet had to leave Bangladesh in early seventies during the Sheikh Mujib's rule in a similar situation when fundamentalist launched a movement for his alleged blasphemous comments. Haider now lives in Germany.

PTI