Acid Throwing
Of all the gender-based violence directed at women, acid throwing is the most heinous crime in our country. It is the most common in Bangladesh and has in recent years multiplied in frequency.
Generally the women and children are the worst victims of acid violence. When acid is thrown on a person, the results are horrific — nitric or sulphuric acid has a catastrophic effect on the human flesh. It causes the skin tissue to melt, often exposing the bones below the flesh, sometimes even dissolving the bone. When acid attacks the eyes, it damages these vital organs permanently. Many acid attacks survivors have lost the use of one or both eyes. The victim is traumatized physically, psychologically and socially. Most survivors of an acid attack are forced to give up their education, their occupation and other important activities in their lives. This is because recovering from the trauma takes a long time and because the disfigurement debilitates and handicaps them in every conceivable way. It is a shame that men are the acid throwers on women and children. There are many causes for which the incidents of acid throwing are happening across the country. Among these causes land disputes, family disputes and refusal of relationship or sex are noteworthy.
Availability of acid in the market is also another cause of acid throwing. We should raise public awareness to reduce acid violence. The government should practise full control over the selling and buying of acid and other harmful chemicals. The good news is that many government and non-government organisations are working for stopping acid violence. The government should take strict measures to obliterate the evil. We hope that soon we shall have a society free from acid violence.
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