Deputy Speaker of Parliament Kayser Kamal has condemned the reported attack on actress Azmeri Haque Badhan in Venice, Italy, calling it “unacceptable” and “reprehensible.”
“What happened to Badhan is an unacceptable and condemnable crime. It is an extreme display of brutality,” he said during a discussion on a notice in Parliament on Tuesday.
Kayser said he expected the state minister for foreign affairs to brief Parliament on the incident.
Badhan was reportedly attacked while in Venice to attend an international film festival. A video showing several people allegedly confronting Badhan, her brother and his young child at a park in Mestre went viral on social media on Monday.
In the video, several individuals are seen identifying themselves as “Venice Chhatra League” members and “Soldiers of Bangabandhu”. They allegedly hurled abusive remarks at Badhan and called her a “July militant” before physically harassing her.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage in Bangladesh’s entertainment industry. Several actors and fellow artistes have protested on social media, while many others have demanded that those responsible be identified and given exemplary punishment.
The incident has also drawn the attention of government officials.
Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government had begun the process of taking legal action against those allegedly involved in the attack.
The incident occurred as Badhan was in Venice to attend the international film festival.
