Dhaka seeks Rome's action over ‘Badhon assault’

Bangladesh has called on Italy to act against those accused of harassing and assaulting actress Azmeri Haque Badhon in Venice.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir says Dhaka has already raised the matter with Italian authorities and is providing Badhon with consular support.

NCP MP Akhter Hossen also called for the attackers to be brought to justice.

Badhon was in Italy with the cast and crew of Rubaiyat Hossain’s The Difficult Bride for the Venice International Film Festival.

On Monday night Bangladesh time, she alleged on Facebook that several people identifying themselves as Awami League activists threw water, soft drinks and eggs at her, physically assaulted her and knocked her phone from her hand.

Her brother, sister-in-law and their 4-year-old child were reportedly with her.

Badhon said she was targeted for her active role in the July movement.

Johorat said the incident occurred because Badhon had stood with Bangladeshis during the movement.

She claimed several people had already been identified from videos circulating on social media.

Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal called the incident an “unforgivable and condemnable crime” and said, “A crime against humanity, an extreme manifestation of brutality, has occurred. This parliament wants to know, this nation wants to know.”

Akhter alleged that Awami League and Chhatra League activists abroad had repeatedly harassed and attacked July movement participants, including BNP, Jamaat and ordinary citizens.

He said he too had faced such an attack while attending a UN event in the US during the interim government.

Kobir said, “An attack on a July protester means an attack on this country’s democratic system.”

He said he had spoken to the foreign secretary and ordered Italian police to be informed.

Bangladesh Consulate General in Milan is in contact with Badhon, who will file a formal complaint.

“Badhon is receiving the highest consular assistance,” he said. “The Bangladesh embassy will raise the matter with Italy’s foreign ministry in the strongest possible terms.”

He also pledged maximum efforts to bring back fugitives who committed crimes in Bangladesh.�"bdnews24