Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has pledged to take strict legal action after being harassed and physically assaulted in Mestre, Italy while attending the Venice International Film Festival.
In a Facebook Live broadcast on Tuesday the actress revealed that the attackers identified themselves as Awami League and Chhatra League activists. During the Monday night incident Badhon alongside her younger brother with his wife and their three-year-old child faced physical and verbal abuse. Reassuring her supporters she confirmed her family is now safe in a secure location arranged by local police.
Refusing to be intimidated Badhon stated, "I will not return to Bangladesh until the legal process is complete. I will see this through to the very end." She confirmed that the Bangladeshi Embassy in Italy and the Prime Minister’s Office are actively assisting her in filing a police case with utilizing video evidence to identify the suspects. Badhon who proudly identifies as a "July warrior" for her role in the country's mass uprising also expressed deep gratitude for the public's ongoing support.
The government has also taken a strong stance on the incident. Prime Minister's Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman warned that the perpetrators will face justice and confirming that legal proceedings in Italy have already commenced. Noting that the attackers filmed and published the assault themselves he remarked "They have exposed once again what the Awami League really is and what its members are capable of."
