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Bangladesh has asked Italy to take strict action against those responsible for allegedly harassing and physically assaulting actress Azmeri Haque Badhon in Venice, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir told Parliament on Tuesday.
The issue was first raised in Parliament by BNP lawmaker Johorat Adib Chowdhury, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Akhter Hossain also called for the attackers to be brought to justice.
Badhon was in Italy to attend the Venice International Film Festival with the cast and crew of Rubaiyat Hossain’s film “The Difficult Bride.” She alleged that she was harassed in the Mestre area on Monday night Bangladesh time.
In a Facebook post, Badhon alleged that several people identifying themselves as Awami League activists threw water, soft drinks and eggs at her. She also alleged that she was physically assaulted and that her mobile phone was knocked from her hand.
Her brother, sister-in-law and their four-year-old child were with her at the time of the incident.
Badhon alleged that she was targeted because of her active role in the July movement.
Raising the issue under a point of order, Johorat said the incident had drawn widespread public concern. She claimed that some of those involved had already been identified from videos circulated on social media.
Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal described the incident as an “unforgivable and condemnable crime” and said the Parliament and the nation wanted to know what action had been taken.
Speaking in Parliament after the question-and-answer session, NCP MP Akhter Hossain alleged that Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists living abroad had harassed and attacked people who participated in the July movement.
He also claimed that members of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and other political parties, as well as ordinary people involved in the movement, had faced threats and harassment abroad. Recalling his own experience, Akhter said he was also attacked during a visit to the United States to attend a UN event while the interim government was in office.
Responding to the lawmakers, State Minister Humayun Kabir said an attack on a participant in the July movement was an attack on Bangladesh’s democratic system.
He said he had spoken to the foreign secretary on Tuesday morning and instructed officials to notify Italian police authorities about the incident.
The Bangladesh Consulate General in Milan is also maintaining contact with Badhon, he said.
“Badhon is being provided with the highest level of consular assistance. She will file a formal complaint with the local police, and the Bangladesh embassy will raise the matter with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the strongest possible terms,” Kabir said.
He further said the government would take all possible measures to bring back to Bangladesh those who had committed crimes in the country and fled abroad.
Following the state minister’s statement, the deputy speaker asked whether any action had already been taken against those involved and asked the minister to update Parliament on the matter later.
