The National Human Rights Commission (NHCR) will take measures so that criminals who have remained fugitive after committing acid attacks can be brought to book.
Almost all of the accused in acid violence cases manage to escape punishment for lack of tougher laws as well as the non-implementation of the existing laws, said Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, while addressing the launching ceremony of a photography book on acid survivors at Brac centre Inn in the city yesterday.
A photography book titled “Unstoppable: The Courage Within” by Shafiqul Alam Kiron was launched at the programme.
Mizanur Rahman said the NHCR would extensively address the issue so that the government enacts tougher law to bring all acid attackers to book.
“Nobody could be spared from getting punishment after committing heinous crimes like acid attacks,” he added.
Monira Rahman, former chairman of Acid Survivors Foundation, said most acid criminals remain out of the reach of law enforcement by taking the advantage of loopholes in the incumbent law.
The accused in acid attack cases should not be granted bail and their trial should be held under speedy trial, she said, adding that at least 90% of the criminals are yet to get punishment for the offence.
Chairman of the Human Rights Commission requested Acid Survivors Foundation to inform the commission about pending lawsuits related to the acid attacks so that it could take actions against attackers.
A number of acid survivors, including Majeda, Shima and Hasina, were present at the programme.
While expressing her experience as an acid victim, Hasina said she was socially boycotted for the first two years following the incident as people considered her an ill omen, though the situation changed later.
Hasina, who became an acid victim in 2004 in Narayanganj, urged the government to bring the criminals to book so that nobody would dare to perpetrate heinous crimes like these in future.
