Actress Badhon assaulted in Venice

Bengali actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, who had gone to Italy for the Venice Film Festival, has reportedly faced physical assault and harassment in Venice.

As per the reports, the individuals connected to the proscribed Awami League and its students' wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, were apparently responsible for this incident. There seems to be a video posted on social media showing one of the attackers calling Badhon a "July fighter" and saying that the "Venice Chhatra League" has caught the "traitor."

They allegedly threw water and soft drinks on her, assaulted her, hit her near the ear, and smashed her mobile phone on the ground. Her brother reportedly tried to get her out of the place to safety.

Later on, she seemed visibly hurt with her swollen red face and went live on Facebook in late night Monday and shared details of the incident.

"I went to a park with my brother. But several Bangladeshi men came and physically assaulted me. They threw water and Coca-Cola on me. I was completely drenched," she said. She further said that the child of her brother was also with them there.

According to Badhon, the attackers termed her a “July fighter,” to which she replied that yes, she had taken part in the July movement. Also, Badhon accused the attackers of forcing her to say “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” when they were filming and livestreaming the whole event.

In her address to the people who were associated with the Awami League party, Badhon said that they must understand that she has come all the way from Bangladesh to attend the Venice Film Festival with a movie directed by Rubaiyat Hossain. Badhon also informed them that the director’s father held a position as a minister.

Also, she criticized the attackers for not moving on from such “irrational” actions and rethinking their steps.

It is reported that Badhon has filed an official complaint at the local police station in Venice regarding the reported incident.