Bangladesh has the highest frequency of acid violence. Acid burns constitute 9% of total burn injuries in Bangladesh. Acid throwing is an extreme form of violence where the majority of throwers are men and the majority of victim-survivors women.
Acid is a caustic material that can burn holes in wood and corrode metals. Thrown on a person, acid causes skin tissue to melt, frequently exposing the bones under or leading to the loss of eye(s), hearing or irreparable damage to hands raised in cover. Permanent physical disfigurement is unavoidable.
The Acid Survivors Foundation's research shows that women are attacked for a number of reasons: refusal of marriage, refusal to develop a relationship or rejection of sexual advances, dowry-related issues and intra-family disputes over land.
According to a report by Acid survivors Foundation (ASF), 42 people become victim to acid violence from January to April 2008.
According to the police headquarters, 1,428 cases were filed with acid crime control tribunals from 2002 to 2007.
In most of all cases, the criminals are often influential people, they put pressure on the victims' families to withdraw cases. At the same time, police cannot gather evidence properly as relatives become busy with treating the victims and make delay in filing cases, destroying vital evidence. Police sometimes take the side with the offenders and protect them from law for reasons not unknown.
We need efficient law enforcement agencies and an effective judicial system to work together with the public to bring the perpetrators to justice.