Those who harassed Badhon to face action after return: State minister

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Humayun Kabir has said that the highest level of action will be taken to bring to justice those involved in the attack on Bangladeshi actress Ms. Azmeri Haque Badhon in Venice, Italy. He said that those who have looted money from the country and fled after committing murder will face the highest level of action to bring them back to the country.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs made these remarks on Tuesday (September 8) while answering questions from two members of parliament during the National Parliament session. This was his first time speaking in parliament.

At the start of the session, paying tribute to the July Fighters killed and injured in the July-August mass uprising, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs said that an attack on a July Fighter means an attack on the country’s democratic system of governance.

Detailing the incident, Mr. Humayun Kabir said that on the evening of September 7, renowned Bangladeshi actress Ms. Azmeri Haque Badhon was walking in a park in Venice, Italy, with her brother, sister-in-law, and a four-year-old child.

Regarding the steps taken by the government in this matter, he said he had spoken with the Foreign Secretary this morning (Tuesday). He said they had informed the Italian police authorities of the matter and instructed them to provide Ms. Badhon with the highest level of consular assistance. He said that on behalf of the Prime Minister, he had spoken with Ms. Badhon that afternoon and assured her of their full support in this matter.

Noting that the local police in Venice had responded promptly to the incident, the State Minister further said that the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome and the Bangladesh Consulate General in Milan were maintaining round-the-clock contact with Ms. Badhon and providing all necessary assistance. He said Ms. Badhon would formally file a complaint with the police and the embassy, after which the embassy would very strongly raise the matter with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Warning that the perpetrators would be brought back to the country, he said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the government elected with a two-thirds majority vote would not hesitate to bring these criminals to justice. He said that, God willing, they would take the highest level of action, using the long arm of the law, to bring back those who looted the national treasury and fled the country after committing murder.

“Bangladesh Will Not Be Subservient to Anyone”

In his address to parliament, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Humayun Kabir also spoke about Bangladesh’s independent foreign policy. He said today was a proud day for Bangladesh, noting that within a few hours, the country would assume the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He said Bangladesh’s strategic foreign policy is now in its strongest position ever.

The State Minister said firmly that Bangladesh would no longer be subservient or a slave to any country, and that Bangladesh would move at its own pace. He said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership and with the support of this parliament, they would emerge as a country that has a positive impact on global welfare and contributes from a position of strength on the international stage.

Earlier in the session, a member of parliament asked in a supplementary question what action had already been taken against the criminals who attacked Ms. Badhon in Italy, and what progress had been made. It was in response to this that the State Minister for Foreign Affairs briefed parliament on the detailed steps taken.