Badhon says she was targeted over her role in the July-August 2024 uprising

TDS Desk:

Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has alleged that she was attacked and physically harassed by a group of Bangladeshis in Italy, who threw water, soft drinks and eggs at her and knocked her phone out of her hand.

The incident took place on Monday night when Badhon was visiting a local park in Mestre with her brother and his family. Her brother’s child was also present during the incident.

Following the incident, Badhon filed a complaint with the local police and later described the incident in a Facebook Live on her verified page.

According to Badhon, the attackers targeted her because of her active role in the July-August 2024 student-led mass uprising. She said some of them identified themselves as supporters of the Awami League and the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, and as “soldiers of Bangabandhu.”

She alleged that the attackers forced her to say “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” while attempting to record the incident and livestream it on social media.

“They raised their hands against me, knocked my phone out of my hand and hit me near my ear,” Badhon said during the Facebook Live.

“They physically harassed me. They threw water and Coke at me. I was completely soaked,” she said.

Videos shared by Badhon show several people confronting her aggressively and engaging in a heated exchange. Some can be heard calling her a “July fighter” and making comments about her political position.

In one video, Badhon’s brother’s child can be heard trying to stop the attackers. One of the men is heard responding that the child should also say “Joy Bangla.”

Badhon said she was not ashamed of her participation in the July uprising.

“They said I am a July fighter. Yes, I am. I definitely participated in the July uprising,” she said.

She also alleged that her brother’s wife was pushed during the incident.

Condemning the attack, Badhon said: “It will not be so easy to silence an Azmeri Haque Badhon. Today, you showed people around the world that an Actress representing Bangladesh was harassed.”

She also mentioned Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying she had learned that he was in Venice and that she intended to bring the incident to his attention.

Badhon was active in the July-August 2024 student-led mass uprising and spoke in support of the movement in local and international media.

She is currently in Italy to attend the 83rd Venice International Film Festival with the team of Rubaiyat Hossain’s “The Difficult Bride.”

The film has been selected for the Orizzonti competition and had its world premiere at Sala Darsena on September 6.