The acid attack survivors recounted their harrowing ordeal at a programme marking the anniversary at Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum in Shahbagh.

Mazeda of Comilla, the first survivor of ASF, related her tragic tale and said, "I'm urging all my fellow beings to be with us so that we don't feel left alone."

"We haven't done any offence and are not responsible for the consequences (that befell us), so why will we not be able to keep our heads up in society," added Mazeda, who has a child, referring to her ditching by the in-laws after she suffered acid burns.

Dr John Morrison, the founding executive director of the ASF, said the organisation has become better and stronger now, which is a good news for acid attack survivors. Morrison is now chairperson of Acid Survivors Trust International, UK.

Nasreen Haq, country director, Action Aid, Bangladesh, said earlier people did not care about acid victims, but now the victims at least get necessary support from the ASF though it could do little to stop this heinous form of crime.

Munira Rahman, executive director of ASF, said the foundation has provided support and assistance to 1,400 acid victims in many ways including taking care of their treatment in the last five years. "But unfortunately we could not save all of them," Munira regretted.

According to the ASF, 14 acid victims have died in the country since 2000 to date and the first victim was Jibon Tara, a teenaged girl of Bogra district. It has opened a 16-bed hospital, named after Jibon Tara, in January this year to treat acid victims free of cost.

Munira said the percentage of acid violence from 1999 to 2002 increased by 15 percent, but it came down 16 percent from last year.

She cited women's refusal to oblige their stalkers and conflicts in conjugal life as the primary reasons for the acid attacks. However, she added, attacks over love affair has considerably reduced, she added.

Robert Gibson, deputy British high commissioner, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, director, burns unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, singer Suvro Dev, representative from Unicef and a photographer also spoke, among others.

Later, the acid survivors sang a song and staged a drama.