Victims of acid violence also attended the rally and narrated their plights through drama, recitation and songs.

The Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) organised the rally to mark the International Women's Day.

Wearing white T-shirts and caps, carrying banners, festoons and placards and chanting slogans against acid violence, around 5,000 people converged on the Shaheed Minar and lit candles to raise social awareness.

Speakers at the rally called on the government to form a separate monitoring committee to keep the track of all criminal cases under the acid law.

The acid law came into effect in March 2002, but the retail sale of acid could not be contained as expected, they said.

Loopholes in investigations and the lack of coordination among the ministries concerned are creating obstacles to proper enforcement of the acid law, said Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo.

Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said strict enforcement of the acid law and raising massive awareness are a must to curb acid violence.

Advocate Sigma Huda said 99 percent of acid victims are women and girls, but men should come forward to stop such attacks.

Representatives from about 20 non-government organisations also joined the programme.

Cultural personality Ramendu Majumdar read out the keynote paper while Munira Rahman, executive director of ASF, conducted the programme.

Founder of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, writer Anisul Huq, National Press Club President Reazuddin Ahmed, The Hunger Project Country Director Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Trade Union Kendra General Secretary Dr Wajedul Islam Khan, dramatist Mamunur Rashid, artist Rafiqun Nabi, Group Theatre Federation President M Hamid, FBCCI Vice-President Dewan Sultan Ahmed and singers Ayub Bachchu, Fakir Alamgir, Shubhra Dev and Suja Islam were also present.

Black Eyes, a music band, Udichi and singers Shubhro Dev and Fakir Alamgir also performed at the programme.