A unique initiative to help sidr-hit acid victims

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury speaks at a function to raise funds for Acid Survivors Foundation at his residence at Baridhara in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR

It was a unique initiative for extending hands of friendship and assistance to those who are the survivors of acid attack, a cruel form of menace that destroys beautiful dreams of life.
People from various walks of life- showbiz, diplomatic corps, businesses and social services- gathered at the residence of British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in the capital yesterday to extend their helping hand to acid survivors and to say that they are not alone.
At the fundraising programme organised by the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) and British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, they donated money to re-build the houses of 61 families of acid survivors whose houses were destroyed by the devastating cyclone Sidr last year.
“They went through double miseries. Social stigma and natural disaster made their lives miserable. They could not collect relief materials like others,” said Foysal, an ASF official.
Survivors like Nasima, Bakul and Halima had no alternative but to take shelter at the neighbours' houses, he added.
ASF teams rushed to sidr-affected areas to identify the acid survivors, said Foundation Chairman Shawkat Hossain, adding that the teams identified 61 families who have already received some money from ASF rehabilitation fund, but more help is needed for their welfare.
Anwar Choudhury said acid attack is a heinous crime and the unfortunate victims deserve sincere help and sympathy.
“Therefore, what we need is to sharpen our actions to help the survivors,” said Choudhury, who is a board member of ASF.
“We need to stop such crime by 2015 when the Foundation would close this organisation. So let us commit to the point,” he said in an emotion-choked voice, urging all to help by donating resources so that the survivors' houses could be built before the next monsoon starts.
Australian High Commissioner Douglas Foskett, Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson, cultural activist Ramendu Majumder, film actress Babita, dance artist Munmun Ahmed, actress Tareen, singers Shuvro Dev, Andrew Kishore, Fakir Alamgir and Kumar Bishwajit, actor Ilias Kanchan and businessmen Sadat Selim, Syed Farhad Ahmed, SM Sazzad Hossain, Rafiqul Islam and Mahzabin Masud were present.