Govt to take up attack on Badhan with Italy in strongest possible way: Humaiun

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Tuesday said the government will take up the incident of attack on actress Azmeri Haque Badhan in Venice with the Italian authorities in the strongest possible way.

“On behalf of the Prime Minister, I spoke to Badhan this afternoon and assured her of our support in this matter. The local police are responding to the incident… our embassy will take up the matter with the Italian Foreign Ministry in the strongest possible way,” he said while responding to the concerns raised by two lawmakers in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday on the attack on Badhan in Venice.

Earlier, ruling party lawmaker Jahrat Adib Chowdhury (women seat-27) and NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen (Rangpur-4) raised their concerns on the attack on Badhan and urged the government to take immediate steps in coordination with the Italian authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.

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Kobir said, “I spoke to the Foreign Secretary this morning, shared the concerns and instructed him to take strict measures so that we could inform the Italian police authorities and extend the highest possible consular assistance to Ms Badhan.”

He said Badhan was walking in a park in Venice on the evening of September 7 with her brother, his wife and a four-year-old child when a group of suspended AL party activists and terrorists allegedly attacked her.

He said the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome and the Consulate General in Milan had maintained contact with Badhan and were providing her with necessary consular support and assistance.

The State Minister said the Venice police responded immediately after the incident and Badhan would lodge a formal complaint with the Italian police.

He added that the Bangladesh Embassy in Italy would also raise the matter with the Italian Foreign Ministry.

Kobir said the government would extend the highest possible cooperation to Badhan in connection with the incident.

He also said this elected government with two thirds of majority, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, would not hesitate to use the long hand of justice to bring back the terrorists who fled the country, looted its exchequer and killed people.

Turning to Bangladesh’s international role, the State Minister said the country has achieved a matter of pride as it would shortly take the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Today is a proud day for Bangladesh. We will be taking up, in a few hours’ time, the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Bangladesh’s foreign policy is now in the strongest possible position in global diplomacy,” he said.

He said Bangladesh would no longer accept subservience to any country and would pursue its own course in international affairs.

“Bangladesh will no longer be a servant or subordinate to any country. Bangladesh will move forward at its own pace,” he said.

Earlier in his maiden intervention in Parliament, the State Minister paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives and those who sustained injuries during the July mass uprising and the movement for restoration of democracy.

He congratulated members of both the treasury and opposition benches for their role in the movement for restoration of democracy and their election to Parliament.

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He further said the government would provide Badhan with the highest possible cooperation.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhan has alleged that she and her family were attacked and harassed by expatriate Bangladeshis she identified as Awami League supporters in Mestre, Italy.