Ayesha Siddiqua, Nandigram, Bogra. She was acid attacked by miscreants in 2007 while sleeping with her aunt. ASF has been cooperating in his medical and study for a long time. Violence has not stopped Ayesha’s life. Fighting against adversity, she is moving forward with a strong soul. Ayesha Siddiqua has successfully passed HSC (Grade-12) with GPA-5 from Bogra Government Azizul Haque College. The ASF family rejoices in her success and wishes her well.
Sathi Akter, an acid attacked victim of Manikganj died this night at 12.30 am on 10th February 2022 (Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). She was undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery from January 29 to February 9.
The Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) is deeply saddened and prays to Almighty God for her departed soul. May Allah grant her Paradise.
On the 3rd February, 2022, a group of five undergraduate students from the Public Health Department of Jahangirnagar University visited Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), as part of their academic and practical requirement and to learn for their assignment. The senior team of ASF briefed the students about the organization with its vision, mission and bio-psycho-social services for the acid survivors across the country and clarified the interesting questions raised by the students to link with their assignment and how public health can be fit with the issue of acid and burn violence.
19-years-old Sathi Akter, a garments worker in Dhamrai attacked with acid on 28th January, 2022, in Saturia, Manikganj at 1 AM by ex-husband over dowry.
Sathi was asleep with her mother and younger sister over their place when ex-husband threw acid over her seriously burning her face and hands. The spillage impacted the mother and sister to a limited extent.
Survivors’ have been first taken to Zila Sadar hospital and then referred to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) for specialized treatment.
Divorced around 3 months before the attack over dowry-related domestic abuse from husband’s part, Sathi’s drug-addicted unemployed ex still assaulted her for dowry after divorce.
Sathi’s uncle filed a case at the Saturia Police Station leading to the perpetrator’s arrest.
Family of 6, Sathi’s father, a mason, is speech impaired and her mother is a housewife.
On 30th January 2022, ASF visited Sathi in the SHNIBPS and assessed her situation to provide necessary assistance.
Former legal officer Jyoti Barua shares her experience
I joined ASF early 2021 as a Legal Officer. The thought of shouldering the responsibility to bring justice to survivors who otherwise had limited access to it was nerve-racking at the least. But I took on the challenge anyway determined to stand by the affected.
Right off the bat, I was thrown off balance at the beginning with the report of a new acid case. I was on my feet without a moment’s delay, gathered the survivors’ contact details, pinpointed their whereabouts, and made my way to the hospital they checked in. Upon briefing them on ASF and its works, we were in the patient compartment of ASF’s ambulance with the survivors in no time heading back to the head office. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Washed over with fear, anxiety, and what-ifs and still swift-footed and laser-focused on my task. My sense of duty got me through that day and the months that followed.
Legal counseling plays a pivotal role for willing survivors in seeking justice. The legal unit of ASF had done exemplary work guiding survivors in this regard. Even in lockdowns, ASF continued providing legal counseling over the phone. And as restrictions relaxed, survivors poured in from across the country and I had the privilege to bump into a few and know the intricacies of their cases. The conclusion to each story was often the same–the battle for justice is incredibly taxing and slow in progress. It takes immense courage and love for life to push through all odds to come anywhere close to the survivors.
It’s a challenging role–legal officer, and the journey to justice is often rowdy. Each case weighs on you heavily every step of the way, your patience is tested time and time again, and when the going gets especially tough your only saving grace is the thought that your work will bring some sort of closure to the survivors.
I truly believe in ASF’s dream to rid Bangladesh from acid violence once and for all, and uplift survivors to live with dignity. And wish ASF is able to scale up its services and expand its outreach gradually. I encourage readers to donate to ASF’s cause and lend their hands in all possible ways to realize its goals. Contact them by phone or email if you’d like to explore ways you could get involved in the fight.