Tougher law demanded to control acid violence

Nurunnahar, an acid victim from Bauphal, Patuakhali narrating her plight at the roundtable on Role of Acid Control Council, held at Satkhira on Monday. PHOTO: STAR

A social movement should be built to create awareness against the heinous crime on humans, they said.

The meeting on 'Role of Acid Control Council at District Level and Citizens' Initiative', was jointly organised by Action AID and a local NGO, Sodesh.

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Madhab Chandra Dutta, Executive Director of Sodesh, moderated the discussion, held at Satkhira Sadar uapzila auditorium.

Action Aid Research Fellow Mahbubul Haq Ripon presented the key note paper.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Syed Iftekher Ali, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer AKM Ali Azam, Municipality Chairman Sheikh Ashraful Haq, Prothom Alo journalist Kalyan Banuerjee, Satkhira Assistant Police Superintendent and member secretary of Acid Control Council Zillur Rahman Jewel, human rights activists Prof Pabitra Mohon Das, Sudhangsa Shekhar Sarkar, Advocate Tapan Chakraforty, Advocate Ferdonsi Ara Lucky, Tahmina Khatun, Dr Firozur Rahman, Sheikh Ajhar Hossain and Action AID co-ordinator Nigar Sultana addressed the meeting.

At the outset, acid victim Nurunnahar from Bauphal in Patuakhali narrated her plight.

Mahbubul Haq Ripon in his paper said acid-throwing incidents have increased alarmingly across the country as the culprits escape punishment through legal loopholes. More stringent laws are needed, he said.

Lawyers, journalists, teachers, NGO representatives and some acid victims attended the meeting.