'My team disowned me': Badhon

Popular actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has returned home from Italy, saying she was 'disowned' by members of her own film team following an alleged assault during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

Badhon returned to Bangladesh on Monday morning after attending the festival for the screening of The Difficult Bride, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain.

She alleged that she was harassed and physically assaulted in the Italian city of Mestre by expatriate supporters of the Awami League, a political party whose activities have been banned in Bangladesh.

Speaking after her return, Badhon said she received support from the Venice Film Festival authorities, the Italian government, the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Embassy in Italy following the incident.

''But my team disowned me,'' she said. 

''They prohibited me from participating with them during the remaining days of the festival. I was also supposed to attend the Toronto International Film Festival later, but they barred me from going there as well.''

The actress said some of her co-stars nevertheless stood by her.

“Among my co-actors, Sunerah, Zaynin and Zaynin’s mother helped me a lot,” she added.

Describing the security and official support she received after the alleged attack, Badhon expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh government, the prime minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

''Government officials contacted me on the very night of the incident. The ambassador of Bangladesh in Italy was extremely supportive. The Italian government, its cultural ministry, the undersecretary and the police department provided me with 24-hour protection.”

She said the director of the Venice Film Festival also arranged accommodation for her at the Lido for security reasons.