The first acid attack in Bangladesh took place in 1986. Even then, acid terrorism did not become so deadly in the society. After that, acid terrorism came up again on September 14, 1996. A beast attacked a woman named Shamimar with acid. He was only 14 then. Shamima said, ‘I don’t look in the mirror anymore. But whenever I touch my nose or ears, that scene floats in the mirror of my mind. 'Since then, acid attacks have happened at different times. According to the Acid Survival Foundation, there have been more than 3,000 acid attacks in Bangladesh since 1999. The worst of these was in 2002. There were 500 acid attacks that year. Since then, the incidence of attacks has been declining. There were 91 attacks in 2011 and 61 in 2012. In 2002, the Bangladesh government enacted strict laws to curb acid terrorism. In addition to speedy trial of the accused, restrictions were imposed on the use, storage and sale of acid. The acid thrower was denied bail and ordered to complete his trial within a year, where it would have taken years before. Provision has been made for severe punishment if the allegation is proved. According to the penal code of Bangladesh, the punishment for throwing acid is minimum 8-12 years imprisonment or maximum death penalty. Although this law exists, many times the acid thrower swears due to inadequacy and non-enforcement of the law. Statistics show that 30 per cent of acid throwers are guilty but their sentences are suspended due to their appeal to the high court. At present about 300 cases are pending in the lower courts. Due to corruption and insufficient information of the police members, it is not possible to investigate most of the cases properly. As a result, the acid thrower gets exemption and the plaintiff does not get proper justice.
Statistics show that most of the acid throwing incidents in Bangladesh are due to love. Many times acid is also thrown because of dowry. One thing that is noticeable in the socio-economic context of Bangladesh is that the incidence of acid exposure is generally higher among lower or lower middle class families and its impact is less in urban areas than in rural areas. Usually, women under the age of 18 are the most victims of this terror. A study by the Acid Survivors Foundation found that 47% of the acid-affected population in Bangladesh are women, 26% are men and 26% are children. Lately, due to family conflicts, domestic animals are also becoming victims of acid.
Even today, in the first light, I saw that the name was written on the student's body with acid!
In Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar, a young man grabbed a fourth class madrasa student and wrote his name on her chest with acid. The incident took place on June 6. According to the locals, a young man named Saiful Islam alias Shipu (22) had been harassing the fourth class student on the way to and from the madrasa for two-three months. The helpless father of the girl was forced to stop going to her madrasa.
The student's mother said that on the afternoon of June 7, when her daughter went to take a bath in the canal next to her house, Saiful grabbed her and took her to the nearby forest. Later, Saiful wrote his name with acid on his chest, threatening to stab his daughter. At this time his daughter became unconscious. He said locals rescued his daughter when they saw her lying in the forest. On the same day, Saiful's father admitted his daughter to a local hospital for treatment, assuring her of a fair trial. But as soon as his daughter got a little better, he started procrastinating.
It is noteworthy here that Saiful's father admitted his daughter to a local hospital for treatment with the assurance of a fair trial.
This is one of the worst attacks. The state has provided severe punishment for him while Saiful's father has assured a fair trial !!! This proves that the people of our society are not so much aware of acid terrorism and in our society there is a small punishment for a big crime. It may be seen that after paying compensation with money, the assailant is walking with power in the society like a hero. Our media and social organizations have not been able to play a strong role in the protest against acid terrorism. As a result, acid terrorism has frightened our society. Strict enforcement of media, social awareness and law can only eradicate acid terrorism from the society.