Actress Azmeri Haque Badhan has received support from fellow artists and filmmakers after she was allegedly assaulted and harassed in Italy.
Badhan said water, soft drinks and eggs were thrown at her during the incident and that she was physically assaulted.
She also said her mobile phone was knocked from her hand. Her brother’s young child was reportedly present at the time.
Following the incident, Badhan filed a complaint with the local police.
Filmmaker Ashfaque Nipun shared Badhan’s Facebook Live video and strongly condemned the incident.
“This is an extremely reprehensible and shameful incident. The assault on an artist who travelled to represent Bangladeshi cinema at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals is truly barbaric and distressing,” he wrote.
He said the incident naturally raises questions about the safety and dignity of artists.
“I hope she receives the necessary legal assistance soon and that the incident is properly investigated and justice is served,” Nipun added.
Filmmaker Shankha Dasgupta also expressed his outrage in a lengthy Facebook post.
“Venice, Cannes, cinema, art, achievement and honour mean nothing to us. We only understand Awami League or BNP, Hindu or Muslim, my people or your people,” he wrote.
Dasgupta said people failed to see Badhan’s appearance at Venice as an achievement by a Bangladeshi artist representing her country at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
“Instead, we first look for which side she belongs to,” he wrote.
He questioned how a Bangladeshi could humiliate and harass another Bangladeshi on foreign soil while continuing to speak proudly about patriotism.
Drawing comparisons with other instances of political violence and humiliation in Bangladesh, Dasgupta criticised a culture in which political identity is placed above people, achievement and the country itself.
“What a strange form of patriotism we have. The party is bigger than the country. Identity is bigger than people. Politics is bigger than achievement,” he wrote.
Actress Pori Moni also shared a video of the alleged attack on Badhan and expressed her protest.
Badhan was in Venice to attend the world premiere of Rubaiyat Hossain’s The Difficult Bride, which is competing in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival.
