Expatriates new victims of acid attacks
Alongside men, women and children, the Bangladeshi expatriates have also been becoming victims of acid throwing over personal rivalry in distant lands.
A male victim from Brahmanbaria, Md Sumon Miah, 30, who had migrated to Dubai, shared his story with The Daily Star yesterday.
He said he fell victim to acid throwing in Dubai in 2009 due to a financial conflict with his maternal uncles. Unemployed for the last three years with a damaged eye and face, he is now living as a burden of the family, he added.
Sumon talked to The Daily Star on the sidelines of a views exchange meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Monira Begum, executive director of Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), said of the acid victims between 1999 and 2011, about 26 percent were men while 74 percent were women and children.
Though the occurrence of acid throwing has declined, at least one incident is taking place every three days in the country, mostly in rural areas, she told the meeting at the Department of Social Services.
ASF along with the government agency jointly organised the programme where ASF distributed Tk 20.16 lakh as donation among 52 acid survivors--45 women and seven men.
Some female acid survivors also shared their stories with The Daily Star and demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits.
Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, ASF Chairperson Dr Iftekharuzzaman, and Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shaheed also spoke.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments