England bowlers James Anderson and Tim Bresnan saluted the courage of acid attack victims after visiting a hospital treating survivors in Bangladesh on Thursday
Published: Feb 18, 2011, 10:41 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 18, 2011, 10:41 AM (IST)
England bowlers James Anderson and Tim Bresnan saluted the courage of acid attack victims after visiting a hospital treating survivors in Bangladesh on Thursday
Dhaka, February 18, 2011
England bowlers James Anderson and Tim Bresnan saluted the courage of acid attack victims after visiting a hospital treating survivors in Bangladesh on Thursday.
Acid attacks are common in the South Asian nation in disputes over dowry payments or in cases of unrequited love, in which spurned suitors try to disfigure the women who reject them. Children are also targeted. Victims are usually left badly disfigured, making them pariahs in impoverished Bangladesh.
“Went to the ACF hospital today in Dhaka for survivors of acid attacks,” Anderson told his followers on Twitter. “Some truly inspirational people there, especially the children who have been through so much in their young lives.” Bresnan tweeted: “Visiting the acid burns unit in Dhaka today was very emotional. The courage of the people affected is awe inspiring. www.acidviolence.org”
Bangladesh last month launched a crackdown on the sale of nitric and sulphuric acid after a rise in their use in attacks on women. Anyone selling acid must be registered and provide full records of all sales — including the names of people who buy the corrosive substances — to the government, commerce secretary Golam Hossain told AFP.
Nitric and sulphuric acid cause human skin to burn, can dissolve bones and frequently cause blindness.
In 2010, after eight consecutive years of declining attacks, the number of acid attacks increased, according to a private charity working with acid attack victims. Last year 153 people were attacked by acid, up from 150 the previous year, according to the Acid Survivors Foundation. The foundation said the number of victims hit a record high of 490 in 2002.
England are in Bangladesh preparing for the Cricket World Cup and are due to play Pakistan in a practice match in Dhaka on Friday. The World Cup, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, runs from February 19 to April 2.
© AFP
