Badhon urges people not to get blind partisan despite being affiliated with a party

Following a sparkling movie premiere in Venice and a subsequent bitter ordeal, popular Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has finally returned home after completing all official and legal formalities.

Badhon had traveled to Italy on September 3 to attend the world premiere of the film The Difficult Bride at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. However, while sightseeing with her family on September 7, she fell victim to harassment and physical assault. Carrying the aftermath of that experience, the actress landed back in Bangladesh this morning.

Immediately upon her return, Badhon held a press conference expressing profound anger and frustration over the attack in Venice. She issued a stern warning not only to the perpetrators but also to those inciting them from behind the scenes.

Addressing the attackers directly, Badhon said, "If you face prosecution, it is your families who will suffer. The prominent leaders who incite you from abroad through video and audio messages, their lives are not yours. You work tirelessly to send remittances that keep Bangladesh running. Please, do not (commit a crime) do this ."

Emphasizing that the attackers are bringing trouble upon themselves, she added, "Those who attack think they will get away with it. But today, they physically assaulted me. It was not just shouting abuse or throwing water from a distance; they actually laid hands on me. This savagery must stop. I believe they have only compromised their own security and standing, not ours."

Describing the incident in Italy as deeply tragic, Badhon added, "I referred to them as expatriate brothers, and many questioned why I called them that. At the end of the day, they are our Bangladeshi brothers. My own Bangladeshi expatriate brothers laid hands on me, attacked me, and treated me with cruelty. Because of this, our nation's reputation has been tarnished on foreign soil."

She further noted, "Foreigners will think that we, as a nation, are constantly fighting among ourselves. It is completely unacceptable if we face attacks  everywhere we go."

Following the incident, Badhon had identified the attackers as supporters of the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League. She urged supporters of the party to exercise restraint, stating, "You may love your party and support its ideology, but please do not become blindly get partisan—that is my request. What you did was unjust and barbaric. Do not repeat this."

Directing her message to top political leadership, Badhon concluded, "I appeal to their senior leaders. You represent a major political party. Though your activities may currently be suspended, you will inevitably engage in politics in the future. The blueprint of your future politics is being drawn right now. Do not create a framework today that will force you to hang your heads in shame tomorrow."