The failure to check acid violence is largely due to lack of proper enforcement of 'Acid Control Act 2002' and 'Acid Crimes Prevention Act 2002', they said.

The Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) organised the seminar on 'The role of government and people in checking acid violence' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

Monira Rahman, executive director of Acid Survivors Foundation, said 203 people fell victim to acid violence during January-July period this year and 73 percent of them are girls and women. Most of the victims are under 18.

Last year 410 people came under acid attacks while the number of victim in 2002 was 484, she said.

But most of the attackers could not be punished because of lengthy legal process, she added.

Presenting the keynote paper, Advocate Elina Khan, executive director of BSEHR, said the home and law ministries should keep a close watch so that not a single criminal could escape taking advantages of the legal loopholes.

She also suggested forming a monitoring cell in each district to prevent such crimes.

Elina Khan also called for raising social awareness and providing proper treatment for the acid victims.

Speaking as chief guest, State Minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar said the incidents of acid violence has declined after the enactment of laws and formation of special trial tribunal.

He also said 'one-stop crisis' centres has been set up in Dhaka and Rajshahi Medical Colleges for proper treatment of the victims.

Shaheen Anam, team leader of Manusher Jonno, called for a social movement and better coordination among the home and law ministries and the police to prevent acid violence.

Muhammad Omar Farooq, secretary of the home ministry, Masuda Hossain, chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha, and Amir Khosru, senior staff reporter of the daily Ittefaq, also spoke.

Justice Sultan Hossain Khan, president of BSEHR, presided over the seminar.