Humaiun Kobir condemns assault on Badhan, says 'attack on July fighter is attack on democratic rule'

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said an attack on anyone who participated in the July Uprising amounts to an attack on Bangladesh's democratic system, as the government pledged consular support and legal action over the assault of actress Azmeri Haque Badhan in Italy.

"A July fighter being attacked means an attack on the democratic system of this country," he told parliament today (8 September).

The issue was raised during a point of order on the third session of the 13th parliament. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal chaired the session.

Rangpur-4 MP Akhter Hossen said a prominent Bangladeshi actress had been assaulted while abroad because of her participation in the July Uprising.

He alleged that BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and other political activists, as well as ordinary people who took part in the uprising, had faced harassment and threats from supporters of the Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League while travelling abroad.

Akhter also said he had personally faced a similar incident while travelling to the United States to attend a United Nations programme. He asked the government what steps it would take to bring those allegedly responsible for such incidents to justice.

Responding to the concerns, Humaiun said the government had taken steps to ensure legal action and provide the actress with the highest level of consular assistance.

He said Badhan was in a park in Venice on the evening of 7 September with her brother, sister-in-law and child when she was attacked by people supporting the Awami League.

"I spoke to the foreign secretary this morning and conveyed our concerns. At the same time, I have instructed that the strictest possible measures be taken so that we can inform the Italian police authorities and provide actress Badhan with the highest level of consular assistance," he said.

He said the matter had been brought to the attention of local police on the prime minister's instructions.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Rome and the Bangladesh Consulate in Milan have been asked to coordinate with Italian authorities and provide the necessary assistance, he added.

The embassy will also contact Italy's foreign ministry and convey Bangladesh's "strongest position" on the incident, Humaiun said.

Humaiun also said the government, elected with a two-thirds majority under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, would take the strongest possible measures to bring to justice those accused of looting the country and killing people.

"We will take the highest possible measures, Inshallah, to bring back to this country those who looted the country and killed people," he said.

Highlighting Bangladesh's assumption of the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, he described it as a significant achievement for the country's foreign policy.

"Bangladesh will no longer be subservient to any country. Bangladesh will follow its own path," he said.

He said the government, with parliament's support, would seek to position Bangladesh as a more influential country on the global stage, with its foreign policy guided by national interests, dignity and capability.