Acid Attack on Ankhi
Culprits still roam free
The family members of the acid victim, Sharmin Akter Ankhi, are spending their days in anxiousness and insecurity as her vengeful attackers are still roaming free.
Ankhi’s younger brother, who wished to remain unnamed, said Tuesday’s acid throwing was not an isolated event, but a culmination of a series of harassments facing her sister for a long time.
“Four or five months ago, he [attacker] came to our house with acid and a knife, and threatened her. We didn’t do or say anything thinking about society, and he continued to harass her,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.
“About five days ago, we had made up our mind to file a GD (general diary), but in the end we didn’t,” he said, regretfully. He said he is fearful about the safety of the other members of his family given the suspect’s propensity to behave recklessly and ruthlessly.
Ankhi, an honours final year student at Eden Women’s College, was attacked inside a marriage registrar’s office in the capital’s Chankharpul when she refused a marriage proposal. The attacker emptied a bottle of acid onto her face and stabbed her before fleeing.
Her brother said, “I don’t know why police still haven’t been able to arrest anyone even though we have clearly named Monir Uddin as the attacker, and also named his family members in the case.”
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday drew attention of the home minister for immediate arrest of Monir and his accomplice Masum, during a visit to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where Ankhi is undergoing treatment.
Nahid said in addition to legal action against such “beasts”, creating mass awareness is necessary to stop violence against women.
Ankhi was transferred to the Burn Unit of DMCH for the severity of her injuries.
Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the Burn Units of the country, said Ankhi would have to undergo at least four or five operations and plastic surgeries. They will go for surgery within a week, but it will depend on her condition, he added.
A police officer at Bangshal Police Station on condition of anonymity told The Daily Star, “We are doing everything we can to arrest Monir. We visited his house in Mohammadpur as well as the one in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, but we have not been able to track him down.”
Meanwhile, different social and rights groups have expressed outrage and deep concern about the brutality against Ankhi.
Students, teachers and staff of Eden College organised a human chain in front of the institution to demand justice for Ankhi and immediate arrest of her attacker.
Prothom Alo Bandhushabha also led a protest procession towards Central Shaheed Minar and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad formed a human chain before Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
