Religion is now the first obstacle to women's advancement. Religion pulls human beings backwards, it goes against science and progressiveness. Religion engulfs people with a fear of the supernatural. It bars people from laughing and never allows people to exercise their choice.

All I ever want is to return to either Bangladesh, my motherland, or India, my adopted home.

I write against the religion because if women want to live like human beings, they will have to live outside the religion and Islamic law.

I believe in absolute freedom of expression. Everyone has a right to offend and be offended.

I was born in a middle class Muslim family, in a small town called Myonenningh in a northern part of Bangladesh in 1962. My father is a qualified physician; my mother is a housewife. I have two elder brothers and one younger sister. All of them received a liberal education in schools and colleges.

Religious fundamentalists in Bangladesh have always argued for a ban on my books.

Those religions that are oppressive to women are also against democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression.