Special Correspondent //

Sarjis Alam, Chief Organizer (Northern Region) of the Jatiya Nagorik Party’s Central Convener Committee, has expressed strong condemnation regarding the attack on actress Azmeri Haque Badhon in Mestre, Italy.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (September 8), Sarjis Alam sharply criticized the perpetrators, stating, “Azmeri Haque Badhon, we are proud of you. You fought for this country; you fought to liberate the people from autocracy.”

Addressing Badhon, he wrote, “You referred to your attackers as ‘Bengali brothers.’ However, they are less like ‘Bengali brothers’ and more like lackeys of murderers—brutes who have sold off their conscience. Even if the murderous Hasina had killed their own children or brothers—just as she killed those 1,400 people—they would still have acted as her sycophants and licked her feet.”

Referring to the attackers, he added, “They possess only a human physique; their humanity has rotted away. Do not expect anything better from them.”

Offering words of comfort, Sarjis wrote, “Do not let this upset you in the slightest. What else can one expect from such brutes? We all stand with you. The entire nation stands with you.”

Earlier, allegations surfaced that activists of the Awami League—a party whose activities have been banned—attacked actress Azmeri Haque Badhon while she was visiting a park in Mestre, Italy, with her brother’s family. She made these allegations in a video message posted on her verified Facebook account late Monday night (September 7).

Badhon stated that she was harassed and physically assaulted. She also shared several video clips on her Facebook account showing individuals attacking her. She claimed that several people assaulted her and that her mobile phone was thrown away. She mentioned that her brother’s young child was also with her at the time of the incident. Badhon claims that the attackers forced her to chant the slogans “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu” while filming the incident. She stated that she was also subjected to verbal abuse during the encounter. Furthermore, she alleged that the attackers assaulted her after labeling her a “July Warrior” (a term associated with the recent student-led uprising).

In a video message addressed to Awami League activists, Badhon said, “The director of the film I have brought to the Venice festival—Rubaiyat Hossain—is the daughter of a former Awami League minister. I have continued working with her even after the July movement. You really should have moved past such irrational behavior; this is not the way to redeem yourselves.”

Badhon added, “I was physically assaulted, and my sister-in-law was shoved. It won’t be so easy to silence someone like Azmeri Haque Badhon. Today, you have shown the world that an actress representing Bangladesh has been harassed.”

Urging that the matter be brought to Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s attention, she said, “Sajeeb Wazed Joy is also in Venice; I hope you will convey this incident to him.”

It is worth noting that Badhon is currently staying in Mestre, Italy, with her family to participate in an international film festival featuring the movie *The Difficult Bride*, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain. The film stars Zainin Karim, Rikita Nandini Shimu, Sunerah Binte Kamal, and Azmeri Haque Badhon in the four lead female roles.

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