Kolkata: Controversial feminist author Taslima Nasreen today (Feb 20, 2004) said the banning of her latest book 'Shei Shob Andhakar', (Those Dark Days) by Bangladesh for allegedly containing "objectionable" comments about Islam and Prophet Mohammad, was "done at the behest of Islamic bigots".

Taslima said in an exclusive interview in Kolkata that she was informed of the ban late last night by her Bangladeshi publisher, Mesbah, who told her that he was being threatened and told not to publish any book written by her in future.

The Bangladesh Government in a notification issued yesterday banned the printing, reprinting, sale and stocking of the book, published last month by People’s Book Society in Kolkata.

Bangladesh also banned the import, sale and printing of the book in the country because it contained "grave and objectionable comments about Islam and Prophet Mohammad" and "may cause hatred in society".

Taslima, whose earlier works 'Lajja', 'Amar Meyebela', 'Utal Hawa', 'Ka' (published as 'Dwikhandito' in India) said, "I don't know where the end lies."

Taslima, a physician-turned writer now in exile after fleeing Bangladesh in 1994 when Islamic fundamentalists threatened to kill her, said she was also piqued at the "indifference" of fellow Bangladeshi intellectuals.

"None of them, despite their progressive and secular inclinations have openly spoken out against the 'fatwa' and the ban against my books."