Farzana Hossen (Pathshala South Asian Media Academy)
Lingering Scars
“Whom do I believe? I have to come again and again to the hospital. The man I lived with for eight years gave me unforgettable pain every single day. He used to beat me whenever he wanted, even for a small mistake. Eleven years have passed since he threw acid on me and burned my body and my face, and I am still carrying the sores,†says Roushon, 32. There are scores of new acid attack victims arriving every day at the hospital. In addition to disfigurement of the face and body, some have permanent loss of eyesight; some will never be able to eat with their mouth. In most cases the victims are women, whose burn injuries are caused by their intimate partner, spouse, boyfriend or the person whom they refused to love. Violence against women is a global phenomenon. In Bangladesh, reports of violence against women are on the rise. Oftentimes, it takes the form of acid attacks, which are estimated to occur every two days, the majority of sufferers being female. Violence against women is closely linked to the institute of marriage, whereby the woman is considered to be guilty for any family breakup or divorce and living alone is difficult. These views on marriage are deeply embedded in cultural and socio-economic practices. Violence against women is sanctioned by both society and the state, but in the name of culture, tradition and religious practices, women are usually forced to live with their abusive spouse to maintain social norms. According to Acid Survival Foundation(ASF) in Bangladesh, from 1999 to 2011 there were 2539 acid attacks and among them 1084 were women. The ratio between male and female victims indicates the extent of violence and discrimination against women in our society. I work with women and girls who have survived an acid attack, and are trying to rebuild their lives despite carrying horrific mental and physical wounds. This story of those women who are in a very dark corner of human existence.
Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Munira,21, was attacked with acid at the age of eleven when she refused to accept a love proposal of a man who was 22years old. The man threw acid by breaking the door of her home after midnight at 2‘o clock, while Munira was sleeping with her mother in her village, at Netrokona in 2003. The attacker has escaped the law with money and still never been punished.
Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Moni,15, was studying in class nine last year(2012). She was attacked with acid at her home in Rangpur, after refusing to love and marry a man who was 21years old. She has lost her eyesight completely along with the scars on her face. 

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Reema,18, got married two years ago in her village at Norshingdi. She was beaten everyday for dowry by her husband and last year in December(2012) she was burned in her room while she was sleeping. 

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Sheema,17, lying in the operation theater for dressing her wound at Acid Survivor Foundation (ASF)in Dhaka. She had her skin surgery for the fourth time after the attack. She was thrown acid due to refusing a love proposal of her coworker(27) in a dyeing factory in Norshingdi in 2013. 

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Sheema(17) and Reema(18) in a room of Acid Survivor Foundation, Dhaka. They became friend of each other after living together at hospital for long time.
Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Moni,15, at her mother lap in Acid Survivor Foundation in Dhaka.
 Moni was studying in class nine last year(2012). She was attacked with acid at her home in Rangpur, after refusing to love and marry a man who was 21years old. She has lost her eyesight completely along with the scars on her face.
Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Reema,18, standing in front of the operation theater in the Acid Survivor Foundation. She had her skin surgery for the fourth time after the attack.

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Sheema,17, sleeping in her bed at Acid Survivor Foundation hospital. She has trouble in sleeping due to pain of the scar on her face.

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
The closed file of Marifa,22. Marifa was a student of Pharmacy in the University of Chittagong. She drank acid on her own to commit suicide in 2011 after being unable to take the blame and rumor which her classmate (a boy) was spreading when she refused to accept his love proposal. 

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Sheema,17, needs to exercise regularly to keep her swollen skin flexible, at Acid Survivor Foundation hospital. 

Story: Lingering Scars
Lingering Scars
Sheema(17) massaging the swollen skin of Moni(15) at Acid Survivor Foundation hospital. 

Story: Lingering Scars
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