I am an atheist. I do not believe in prayers, I believe in work. And my work is that of an author. My pen is my weapon.

I have been writing poetry since 1975. My first poetry book was published in 1986.

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

It is said that peace is the basic tenet of all religion. Yet it is in the name of religion that there has been so much disturbance, bloodshed and persecution. It is indeed a pity that even at the close of the twentieth century we've had to witness such atrocities because of religion. Flying the flag of religion has always proved the easiest way to crush to nothingness human beings as well as the spirit of humanity.

Governmental defense of any theology necessarily weakens the legitimacy of both the government and the theology.

I want to live in Kolkata; I don't want to live in Europe - I can't write there. I write in Bengali, and I need to be surrounded by the Bengali language and culture.

When I write, I don't allow the fear of consequences to interfere with the writing process. I have in the past paid for my commitment to the truth and the way I live my life. I am prepared to pay more if I have to.