Model, actress and lawyer Peya Jannatul has expressed concern over what she described as growing cruelty and insensitivity towards women and artists following the alleged harassment of actress Azmeri Haque Badhan in Venice, Italy.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, Peya expressed her deep concern and disappointment over the incident without directly mentioning Badhan by name.
“People are becoming increasingly cruel and insensitive, especially towards women and artists. It is truly concerning,” she wrote.
Peya said living abroad does not necessarily change a person’s mindset or make them more open-minded.
“Being outside the country does not automatically change people’s way of thinking or make them more open-minded. To me, real progress is reflected in how much a person respects others, understands them and remains humane,” she wrote.
“Sadly, these are the very areas where we seem to be gradually falling behind.”
The comments came after Badhan was allegedly assaulted and harassed in public in Venice. According to Badhan, the incident was linked to her active participation in the July-August 2024 student-led mass uprising.
Badhan has alleged that some of those involved identified themselves as members of the banned Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League, as well as “soldiers of Bangabandhu”.
The alleged incident has sparked widespread outrage among fellow artists and social media users, with many calling for those responsible to face exemplary punishment.
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 Film Festival.
