Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhan has alleged that she and her family were attacked by a group of Bangladeshis in Venice, Italy, where she is currently attending the Venice Film Festival.
According to Badhan, the incident took place while she was in Venice for the premiere of Rubaiyat Hossain’s The Difficult Bride, which is competing in the festival’s Orizzonti section.
The actress claimed that she and her family members were physically harassed during the incident. She later spoke about the experience on social media, questioning why artists are repeatedly forced to bear the consequences of conflicts surrounding them.
Badhan has been receiving international attention for The Difficult Bride, in which she plays a key role alongside newcomer Zaineen Chowdhury Karim.
The film premiered at Venice on Sunday and has since received reviews from several international publications.
The actress has not yet provided extensive details about the alleged attack or identified all those involved. However, reports circulating online say the incident involved a group of expatriate Bangladeshis.
Badhan has previously spoken publicly about social and political issues, including the experiences of women and artists in Bangladesh.
Her appearance at Venice comes as The Difficult Bride marks a significant moment for Bangladeshi cinema as the country’s first feature film to compete in the festival’s Orizzonti section.
Directed by Rubaiyat Hossain, The Difficult Bride follows a young bride-to-be whose body begins to undergo disturbing changes as she faces mounting pressure surrounding beauty, marriage and social expectations.
The film also stars Rikita Nondine Shimu, Sunerah Binte Kamal, Shatabdi Wadud, Saberi Alam and Mohammed Bari.
Badhan has yet to make a detailed public statement about the incident or announce whether she plans to take any legal action.
