Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has allegedly been attacked and harassed in Italy. According to her statement, several individuals threw water, soft drinks, and eggs at her and physically assaulted her. She also alleged that her mobile phone was knocked from her hand and she was struck near her ear. Following the incident, the actress filed a complaint at a local police station.
Badhon claims she was targeted because of her active role in the July-August student-mass uprising of 2024. According to her statement, some of the attackers identified themselves as activists of the Awami League (currently banned) and Chhatra League (banned), as well as ‘Bangabandhu’s soldiers’.
The actress alleged that she was forced to chant ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’. She stated that attempts were also made to record the scene on video and broadcast and publish it live on social media.
Badhon is currently in Italy to attend the screening of the movie ‘The Difficult Bride’, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain, at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. She is currently staying in the city of Mestre. She stated that the incident took place on Monday night when she went to a local park with her brother and his family members.
Following the incident, Badhon came live on her verified Facebook page to share the details. Later, she published several videos of the attack and harassment.
In the published videos, several people were seen rushing towards Badhon, scuffling with her, and speaking heatedly. Some of them were also heard calling Badhon a ‘July militant’.
In her Facebook live, Badhon said she had gone to the park with her brother’s family. There, a few Bengalis physically harassed her and threw water and soft drinks on her body.
She stated that she was assaulted, her phone was thrown away, and she was struck near her ear. She also alleged that her sister-in-law was pushed.
Badhon’s brother’s young child was also with them during the incident. In one of the published videos, the child was heard trying to stop the attackers, to which someone was heard telling him to say ‘Joy Bangla’.
The portion of the incident involving Badhon’s brother’s child also circulated on social media. In the video, several people were heard speaking heatedly about Badhon’s political stance and labeling her a ‘July militant’.
Badhon said she participated in the July 2024 movement and referred to herself as a ‘July warrior’. At the same time, she stated that it will not be easy to suppress her.
In her video message, she also mentioned Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasan. She stated that she learned Joy is in Venice and mentioned that she would convey the incident to him.
During the July-August student-mass uprising of 2024, Badhon was active on the streets. She also spoke in favor of the movement in various domestic and foreign media outlets.
Why Netizens Are Against Badhon
Although mixed reactions have been observed on social media regarding the allegation of Badhon’s harassment in Italy, adverse reactions are comparatively more prominent in her own Facebook post and various discussions published on the issue. Alongside ‘haha’ reactions on her post, a large number of negative comments were seen.
The same trend was observed in the comment sections of Facebook posts made by almost all media outlets in Bangladesh regarding the issue, and even in the comment sections of posts by former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud and political leader Sarjis Alam. Since they have millions of like-minded followers, the comments were expected to be in Badhon’s favor. Instead, the largest portion of thousands of comments took a stance against Badhon.
A section of netizens argues that a counter-reaction has been generated on social media around Badhon based on the perception that there has been no proper justice for recent incidents in Bangladesh where several women were publicly physically harassed and attacked over allegations of involvement with the Awami League or being given an ‘Awami tag’. Some of them are explaining the current incident by bringing up the lack of justice for these past events.
