Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon has spoken about her difficult experience after being harassed and attacked at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, expressing gratitude to those who stood by her. She is still in Venice.
In a recent Facebook post from there, she wrote that when life confronts you with hard times, something beautiful may be waiting for you on the other side. The actress said: “What a long journey this has been! A journey with difficult moments, insults, harassment, being physically attacked, and even the feeling of being abandoned by my own people. But through all of this, I’ve realised one deep truth: sometimes the biggest support comes from the most unexpected places.”
Badhon expressed gratitude to the governments of Bangladesh and Italy, the Bangladesh embassy in Italy, Italian police and festival authorities for standing by her during this difficult time. She said: “When I needed cooperation and support the most, you stood by me.” The actress added that when some of her own people distanced themselves, these institutions and individuals became crucial sources of strength and protection for her.
Badhon also expressed her deepest gratitude to everyone who stood by her, checked on her, prayed for her, or offered a kind word. Badhon travelled to Italy to attend a screening of Rubaiyat Hossain’s film “The Difficult Bride” at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. On the night of September 7, she was attacked and harassed at a local park while visiting with her brother and his family members.