Azmeri Haque Badhan has vowed to stay in Italy until she files a legal case over the alleged attack and harassment she and her family faced in Venice.
In a Facebook Live video posted Tuesday after the incident, the actress said Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s Office and the Bangladeshi ambassador in Italy had contacted her following the incident. She said she and her family were heading to the police station to initiate legal proceedings.
According to Badhan, some of those allegedly involved have already been identified. She said she would pursue legal action against them and would not back down.
“I will not leave Italy without filing a case,” Badhan said during the live video.
The actress also thanked those who had stood by her and supported her following the incident. She said she would not allow the incident to frighten or intimidate her.
“I wasn’t born to be afraid,” she said, reaffirming her determination to seek justice.
However, Badhan said the most difficult part for her was seeing her brother’s family caught up in the incident. She was particularly distressed that her three-year-old nephew was also allegedly attacked.
Badhan had earlier alleged that several people verbally abused and physically harassed her while she was spending time with her brother and his family at a local park in the Mestre area of Venice. She said the group pelted her with water, soft drinks and eggs, knocked her mobile phone from her hand and struck her near the ear.
Her brother’s young child was present during the incident, while his wife was allegedly pushed. Badhan later filed a complaint with local police.
The actress has alleged that she was also pressured to chant political slogans during the confrontation.
Badhan is in Venice for the world premiere of Rubaiyat Hossain’s The Difficult Bride, which is competing in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival.
