Despite an act with clear regulations about acid, illegal sale and use of the liquid have been going on thanks to slack monitoring of the authorities concerned.
Acid is being sold openly, in unregistered sale points, which do not even keep a tally of the purpose and specifics of an acid buyer – which was made mandatory in the Acid Control Act 2002.
According to sources, the government formed the National Acid Control Council with district-level surveillance committees shortly after passing the act, to control the import, export, sale and use of acids in the country.
The act came in the aftermath of increased acid violence in the country – a situation that still prevails for failure of the regulatory bodies to curtail illegal acid business.
During a recent visit, this correspondent witnessed rampant sale of acids in various retail pharmacies in Old Dhaka.
Upon enquiry, most of the shop owners admitted knowing about the 2002 act but they did not have any business licenses to sell acid from the council. They also said no one from the government ever came to inform them of the conditions thereof.
There are allegations that sometimes employees of drug stores sell stolen acid on the black market.
Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that efforts are on to check unsanctioned sale of acid.
“We are aware of the open market business of acid and trying our level best to curb that, but we don’t have a strong monitoring team,” he said.
Executive Director of Acid Survivor Foundation Munira Rahman said acid violence has increased in the country due to its easy accessibility.
“Acid is found almost everywhere, from homeopathy shops to dispensaries, goldsmith workshops to car repair points, tanneries and even handloom factories. We know acid has some real-life utility, but sometimes persons needing that also end up abusing it,” she said.
According to the 19th clause of the Acid Control Act 2002, unlicensed production, import, export, transport, storage, sale and use of acid are a punishable offence.
In case of any infringement of the rules, the offender would be punished with three to ten years of imprisonment, and a fine of up to Tk50,000.
