Badhan harassed, assaulted in Venice by AL supporters

Popular Bangladeshi actor Azmeri Haque Badhan was harassed and physically assaulted by a group of people in Venice, Italy, while visiting a local park with her brother and his family.

Badhan shared a video of the incident on Facebook late Tuesday night, showing a group of people attacking the actress and throwing eggs, water and Coca-Cola bottles during the confrontation.

In the video, the attackers are heard calling Badhan a "July militant" and a "traitor" and asking her to chant "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" while recording the incident.

Badhan said her mobile phone was thrown away during the incident and she was struck near her ear. She also said her brother's wife was pushed during the confrontation.

"My brother's little child was with us. They hit me, threw my phone away and struck me near my ear," Badhan said in the video.

She said the attackers identified themselves as supporters of the Awami League and Chhatra League in Venice and targeted her for supporting the July-August 2024 student-led mass uprising.

"I participated in the July movement. Yes, I am a July fighter," she said.

Badhan also criticised those involved in the incident, saying such behaviour was unacceptable, particularly while she was representing Bangladesh at an international film festival.

"I have brought a film to the Venice festival whose director Rubaiyat Hossain's father was a former Awami League minister. I am still working with her even after the July movement. You should have moved away from such irrational behaviour," she addressed the attackers.

Badhan said she has already filed a written complaint with the local police in Venice seeking legal action over the incident.

She is currently in Venice with her brother and his family to attend the international film festival, where Rubaiyat Hossain's 'The Difficult Bride' is being screened in the competitive Orizzonti section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

The film had its world premiere at Sala Darsena at 2:15 pm local time on Sept 6, marking a historic appearance for Bangladesh at the festival.

Badhan, Zainin Karim, Rikita Nandini Shimu and Sunerah Binte Kamal play the four principal female characters in the film, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain.

Known internationally for her performance in 'Rehana Maryam Noor', Badhan is currently representing Bangladesh at the international film festival. The incident in Venice has drawn widespread criticism on social media.

Source: UNB NEWS