A reserved-seat woman lawmaker Jaharat Adib Chowdhury on Tuesday protested in Jatiya Sangsad against the alleged physical and verbal harassment of actress Azmeri Haque Badhon in Venice, Italy, and sought to know what steps the Bangladesh government was taking to ensure action against those involved.

The lawmaker raised the issue under a point of order at the beginning of the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, saying the incident was an important and sensitive matter for the people of Bangladesh.

The sitting began at 3:30pm with deputy speaker Kaysar Kamal in the chair.

Jaharat said Badhon, a prominent Bangladeshi actress, had travelled to Venice to attend a film-related event and had herself described the incident in a live session on social media the previous day.

According to the lawmaker, Badhon was walking in a park with family members and her young child when she was physically attacked and verbally abused.

She said the attack was motivated by Badhon’s position as a July warrior and her support for the people of Bangladesh during the July 2024 movement.

‘Such an attack on a woman and an artist who stood by the country cannot be accepted in any way,’ Jaharat said.

She also criticised arrogance on social media, saying their conduct suggested that they believed they could violate the law and attack a woman anywhere in the world, even outside Bangladesh.

The lawmaker said the attackers had been identified through social media within 24 hours of the incident and asked what measures the foreign ministry was taking.

She also sought details about whether the ministry was contacting the Italian government and law enforcement agencies to ensure strict action against those responsible.

Jaharat said no minister responsible for the foreign ministry was present in parliament at the time, but lawmakers would seek an explanation from them later.

‘Parliament and the people of the country also want to know what action the government is taking regarding this incident,’ she said.

Deputy speaker Kaysar Kamal said no representative of the foreign ministry was present in the chamber and that their response would be heard when they attended parliament.

Describing the incident as unacceptable and condemnable, the deputy speaker said it represented the ultimate manifestation of the brutality of a crime.

He said the statements of one or both foreign affairs state ministers would be heard when they came to parliament.

‘This parliament wants to know. This nation wants to know,’ deputy speaker said.