[R-G] BANGLADESH: Acid Attacks Continue despite New Laws

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=82194>
BANGLADESH: Acid attacks continue despite new laws

Photo: Contributor/IRIN
Workers at the Acid Survivors Foundation express their solidarity with
acid victims to raise social awareness against the practice
DHAKA, 5 January 2009 (IRIN) - Acid attacks against women and girls
are continuing despite legal campaigns to halt their spread.

Over 2,600 cases have been reported since 1999, according to the Acid
Survivors Foundation (ASF) of Bangladesh. Almost all the attacks have
been on women or girls. Many of the victims are under 18, says ASF,
which has been working to eliminate acid violence for almost a decade.

The main reason for the violence is dowries, refusal of love
proposals, or land disputes, ASF said. Bent on revenge, perpetrators
throw acid into their victims' faces in an effort to severely
disfigure them, often with horrifying results.

Nitric or sulphuric acid has a catastrophic effect on human flesh, ASF
said, resulting in skin tissue melting, often exposing the bones below
the flesh, and even dissolving bone.

Scarred for life and badly burned, many survivors also lose their
sight in one or both eyes. Others are so psychologically traumatised
they never recover.

Despite the viciousness of these attacks, many go unreported: "Many
incidents are never reported. [The] media covers only those cases that
go to court," Rokhsana Akhter, an activist told IRIN in Dhaka, adding:
"The poor and powerless do not go to court. Their cases remain
unreported."

Easy to buy

Photo: Shamsuddin Ahmed/IRIN
Efforts to raise awareness and push for stronger government measures continue

Despite the public outcry, purchasing acid is still not difficult.

In Dhaka, sulphuric acid can be readily purchased for just 44 US cents
a pound (roughly half a litre), with nitric acid slightly higher at 59
cents a pound.

"You just ask the traders for acid. They will provide you with the
required quantity," Gopal Das, a goldsmith in the city's Tantibazar
area, said.

Gopal uses nitric acid to melt gold. Since he only needs a very small
amount he has never bothered to obtain the now mandatory license.

Like Gopal, many jewellers, especially the small ones, collect and use
acid, making effective monitoring of this deadly material all but
impossible.

"The last time a mobile court raided this area was March 2008," said
Kazi Abdul Hamid, a shop owner selling chemicals in Goal Nagar, an
acid wholesale market in Dhaka.

"We should have a distinct monitoring team to control acid use and
sale; the fact is that we do not have one. Normally a mobile court
visits specific shops and issues or renews their licenses. I can't
tell you when the last visit took place," said Deputy Commissioner of
Dhaka Mohammad Zillar Rahman whose office is responsible for
controlling and monitoring the acid trade in the city.

"Enforcement remains weak. Perpetrators are still able to procure acid
on the open market," said ASF executive director Monira Rahman.

Legal efforts

Efforts to combat the crime have had limited success.

In 2002, parliament enacted two laws against acid violence: Under the
Acid Control Act of 2002, the unlicensed production, import,
transport, storage, sale, and use of acid can result in a prison term
of 3-10 years. Those who possess chemicals and equipment for the
unlicensed production of acid can get the same prison term.

One doctor sounded an optimistic note: "Since then, acid violence has
been showing a rapid decline," said Shamanta Lal Sen of the burns and
plastic surgery unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

According to ASF, 221 and 192 people were subjected to acid violence
in 2006 and 2007 respectively. In 2000 and 2001 their number was 234
and 349 respectively.

Combating the crime

A number of organisations are working to combat the crime, or mitigate
its effects.

ASF and the DMCH burns unit are working to support victims of acid
attacks. BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities), Bangladesh's
largest NGO, offers survivors logistical assistance with access to
health facilities. Legal aid organisations, such as Ain o Salish
Kendra, and the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association provide
legal aid to acid victims. Prothom Alo, a popular daily, raises funds
for the treatment and rehabilitation of victims, as well as
campaigning against the crime.

According to rights groups, apart from Bangladesh, acid attacks are
common in a number of Asian countries, including Pakistan, India,
Afghanistan and Cambodia.