State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Tuesday informed Parliament that the Bangladesh missions in Italy are extending full support and assistance to noted actress Azmeri Haque Badhan who was attacked in Venice on Monday.
“The Bangladesh Embassy in Rome and the Consulate General in Milan are in contact with Badhan and extending all possible consular support and assistance in this regard,” he said.
The state minister made the statement in Parliament after two lawmakers raised the issue and sought government action against those behind the attack.
Describing the incident as a “cowardly attack”, Humaiun Kobir said an attack on a July fighter is tantamount to an attack on Bangladesh’s democratic system of governance.
He said Badhan was attacked by suspended Awami League activists while she was walking in a park in Venice with her brother, his wife and their four-year-old child on September 7.
The state minister said he spoke to the foreign secretary on Tuesday morning, conveyed his concerns and instructed the authorities to ensure the government took the strongest possible action, inform the Italian police authorities and extend the highest possible cooperation to Badhan.
“On behalf of the Prime Minister, I spoke to Badhan this afternoon and assured her of our full support in this matter,” he said.
Humaiun Kobir said local police in Venice responded promptly following the attack.
As Badhan lodged a formal complaint with the police, the Bangladesh Embassy will take up the matter with the Italian Foreign Ministry in the strongest possible terms, he said.
The state minister also issued a strong warning against those he described as terrorists who fled Bangladesh after looting and killing people.
“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the elected government of Bangladesh, which has received two-thirds of the votes, will not hesitate to use the long arm of justice to blow back at these terrorists who fled our country after looting and killing people. We will take the strongest possible measures to bring them back to this country, Inshallah,” he said.
Humaiun Kobir also said Bangladesh is going to assume the presidency of the UN General Assembly session, describing it as a matter of pride for the country.
“And I want to inform you further that today is a proud day for Bangladesh. We will be taking up in a few hours the presidency of the UN General Assembly session,” he said.
He said Bangladesh’s strategic foreign policy is now in the strongest possible position.
“Bangladesh will no longer be subservient to or a slave of any country. Bangladesh will move forward at its own pace,” he said.
Earlier, BNP lawmaker Jahrat Adib Chowdhury (Women Seat-27) raised the issue on a point of order at the outset of Tuesday’s sitting, which began at 3:30pm with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.
“The only reason behind the attack was that she was a July fighter. She stood beside the people of Bangladesh on July 24,” she said.
Jahrat alleged that the attackers were identified supporters of the “fascist government” and said their identities have already been established through social media posts.
“I want to know how our Foreign Ministry is working with the Italian law enforcement agencies and the Italian government to ensure strong action against those responsible,” she said.
Before Humayun Kobir’s statement, NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen (Rangpur-4) also raised the issue and asked what plan and steps the government would take to bring the Awami League and Chhatra League activists who assaulted and attacked July fighters abroad to justice.
Akhter said it is deeply regrettable that a well-known Bangladeshi actress has been subjected to a “barbaric attack” by fugitive Awami League and Chhatra League activists while abroad, allegedly because of her participation in the July movement.
He said such incidents occurred on different occasions and alleged that those who participated in the July movement, regardless of their political affiliation, are being harassed and threatened by Awami League activists when they travel abroad.
The NCP lawmaker said he himself faced a similar attack in the United States while attending a UN programme during the interim government.
He urged the government to formulate a plan and take firm steps to bring such attackers under the law.