Is there a crime more hideous? Acid Attacks in Bangladesh - Part 2

"The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.''

Frederick Buechner

Behind every acid attack is a personal story. A story of sorrow and hardship that taints their personality for the rest of their lives. In Part 2 of Acid attacks in Bangladesh we bring you closer in to the personal lives of those affected. The kind participation of Jan Moller Hansen and his thought provoking work with an endearing personal touch attempts to wake the world up to the ever increasing and hideous crime of vitriolage. Alongside the photographs are the personal stories from the survivors from Jan Moller Hansens' perspective.

All images below are subject to copyright and should not be re-published without the permission of the author.

''Shamsul Hoque is 30 years old and from Thakurgaon in North-Eastern Bangladesh. Shamsul had a shop where he repaired TVs and electronics. He was doing business together with a friend, who had a tailor shop next door. Business went okay for Shamsul, and he started lending a bit of money to his friend who was in trouble. After some time Shamsul realised that his friend was not willing to repay the loan. The shop that his friend occupied also belonged to Shamsul, and the friend did not want to pay for electricity and water either. Shamsul was not happy with the situation.''

''In the beginning, the two were best friends, but then Shamsul’s friend got married and things started to change. The relation between Shamsul and his friend became more and more problematic. One night Shamsul was sleeping in his shop. It was dark, and suddenly his friend came into the room during night and threw a bucket of acid over him. The acid spilt all over Shamsul’s body and went deep into his eyes. The incident happened one night in April 2007. Shamsul cannot remember which date it was.

Shamsul was rushed to the hospital in Dineshpur - the Medical College. His condition was very severe, and the hospital was not able to treat him properly and to keep him alive. More that 60 per cent of his body had been seared by the strong acid.''

''Some people from the non-governmental organisation BRAC had heard about the case, and they came to the hospital and got Shamsul transported to the City Hospital in Dhaka city. Shamsul was kept alive at the City Hospital, and after some time he was transferred to the Acid Survivors’ Foundation in Dhaka. Here they were able to save his life and get him through the critical time.

Shamsul is married and has one son. He was married in January 2007, just three months before he was attacked with acid. His son is now three years old. Shamsul tells that his wife wants to stay with him, but that her family do not allow that. His wife and son now live with his family-in-law, who do not allow them to see him. Shamsul lives with his parents.''

''Shahnaz is a woman in her thirties. She lives in Savar in Dhaka in Bangladesh.In 2003, Shahnaz's sister went abroad for work and was sending money home to her husband. Shahnaz then got married, and her husband's younger brother wanted money from Shahnaz and her sister. Shahnaz's father was a poor man and could not afford to pay dowry to Shahnaz's family in-law. During marriage Shahnaz had two daughters. She could not get a son. Therefore her family in-law did not accept her. They did not like her. After eight years of marriage, the younger brother of her husband wanted revenge, because the family had not received enough dowry from Shahnaz and her family.''

''One night he went to Shahnaz's house, walked in to her bedroom. While she was asleep, he poured acid over her. The crime happened on 13th October 2003. Since Shahnaz was attacked by acid in 2003, she has been through five operations at Dhaka Medical College and six operations at the Acid Survivors' Foundation in Dhaka. Her nose disappeared and had to be reconstructed. Also her upper lip had to be redone as well as one of her ears. Today Shahnaz still needs treatment. The acid took her eyes, and Shahnaz is completely blind. From one eye she can see some light. After the crime, Shahnaz filed a case with the police against her husband's younger brother. After eight years nothing has happened. Shahnaz's husband  no longer wants to see her, and she lives with her mother and her two daughters. Shahnaz is a strong woman. Her two daughters are what keeps her alive.''

''Shaznaz’s file from when she was admitted after an acid attack in 2003.’’

''Sabber is 3 years old and from Faridpur in Bangladesh. The name of Sabber’s mother is Lebe. Lebe is the second of three sisters, who are all married. The husband to Lebe’s eldest sister wanted to marry her younger sister. The youngest sister had three children and her husband had just died recently. The youngest sister refused to marry the husband of her elder sister, who then approached Lebe to mediate and settle the matters. Lebe was against his proposal and refused to help him. One day Sabber's father was away from home. In the night Sabber's uncle came to the window of his bedroom and threw acid on him. As the uncle was not satisfied with the result, he entered the bedroom while Sabber and his mother were still asleep. The uncle removed the mosquito net over the bed and for a second time poured acid over Sabber and his mother.''

''Sabber with his father. Sabber and his mother were severely injured and burned by dangerous acid. A few days after the crime took place, the two where admitted to the Acid Survivors’ Foundation in Dhaka for treatment. When I met Sabber he was holding his father screaming in pain that he wanted a stick so that he could beat everybody. Sabber is a healthy and sharp three year old boy, who’s life has changed forever. No case has been filed against Sabber’s uncle, who committed this terrible crime.''

One would all agree that these are heartbreaking stories with an all too common theme. Based in Cambodia we are hearing about these crimes all the more often and sadly much of the time the perpetrators are never bought to justice.

We would like to thanks Ulrik Jantzen and Jan Moller Hansen for their captivating photography and insight to a hideous crime.

Please take a moment to see more of Jans' work here

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