Daily Times

DHAKA: Survivors of acid attacks blazed through a unique fashion show in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Tuesday in an effort to smash the conservative country’s social prejudices about the victims.

Organisers said they hoped to highlight the fact that acid victims, too often overlooked, are a vital part of society. They deliberately chose to hold the event on the eve of International Women’s Day.

“We are here today to show their inner strength, as they have come a long way,” said Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, which organized the show. “I often take inspiration from them. Their courage is huge.”Bangladesh has struggled to deal with acid attacks in recent decades, and has instituted harsh punishments for the perpetrators, including the death penalty. The country has also trained doctors to treat such sensitive cases and attempted to control the sale of acid, but has failed to eliminate the scourge entirely.

In 2016, some 44 people were attacked with acid in Bangladesh – an annual number that has remained relatively stable.

“I am ashamed of having such things in the country,” Kabir said. “Unfortunately, in Bangladesh we do have acid victims because of either gender discrimination or violence, or because of greed. And we want to remind everyone the kind of injustice that has been meted out to them.”

According to the Acid Survivors’ Foundation, the number of attacks has declined over the years owing to tough laws that allow for the death sentence.

But the group said acid survivors still face social ostracization and discrimination due to their physical deformities in the conservative country.