No death penalty of perpetrators executed

None of the death sentences given to the 14 perpetrators of acid violence have been executed so far, said Selina Ahmed, executive director of Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) at a national conference on acid survivors yesterday.

The delay in handing out justice may demoralise the victims, she observed.

Expressing disappointment at the revelation, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki promised to see that the verdicts are executed soon.

She said that acid violence persists because of patriarchy, lack of education and equality and underlined the importance of fighting those to stop such violence.

The conference organised by ASF was held at the capital's Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Selina said when the Acid Control Act and Acid Crime Control Act were enacted in 2002, about 500 women used to fall victim to acid violence in a year. "But in the last couple of years the number of acid attacks has been about 70," she added.

While the progress has been significant, there is no scope to feel less concerned until the number of victims comes down to zero, she said.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation urged the survivors to be self-reliant through learning skills and stressed that the crimes committed against them should not shape their life, rather they should always move forward.