Ten people were attacked only in Dhaka out of total 88 victims across the country from January to June this year whereas the capital was not even in the list last year, revealed a report of Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF).

The northern districts of Bogra and Sirajganj got the second and third positions with the total number of victims at nine and eight.

Last year Sirajganj topped the list claiming 11 people during the same time frame.

This year, other top districts are Kurigram, Bagerhat, Barisal, Comilla and Habiganj.

The ASF report also shows that Dhaka was below Sirajganj, Khulna, Brahmanbaria, Kushtia and Sylhet in 2005.

A total of 15 people fell victim to acid violence in 14 accidents across the country in last month, and of them five people were from Dhaka.

Najibul Islam Polash, a senior journalist of a magazine The University Campus, was a victim of acid violence in the city.

Criminals threw acid at him in the early hours of June 28 while he was sleeping at his Malibagh residence.

This correspondent met Polash while he was waiting at ASF for admission to its medical unit with bandage in almost all over the body including eyes on July 1.

Polash suspected that his colleagues working in another magazine might have committed the crime out of professional jealousy.

His family sources said Polash took treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for two days.

His father and brother took him to ASF as no attendant is needed there.

It is mentionable that the family members of Polash live in Chapainawabganj.

ASF Executive Director Monira Rahman said, "Polash was admitted here with 40 percent deep burn. We'll go for surgical intervention after he reaches at a stable situation."

Monira admitted that the awareness campaign against acid throwing is yet to reach people from all walks of life, especially to lower-middle class people.

She said total number of acid victims in last year was less than this year.

Some 74 people fell victim to acid violence in six months (January-June) of last year across the country, she added.

According to a recent analysis of ASF, the immediate causes of acid throwing are the disputes over land, property, money, family relations and dowry.

The victims are mostly women and the age group of the victim is 18 to 45 years.

Human rights activists have suggested reinforcement of awareness campaign promoting social values at all levels to stop this violence.

They also called for strict implementation of acid control act.

"Provision of more stricter laws is needed so that acid is not easily available in the market," said Farida Yasmin, senior project officer of Nari Pokkho that started work on acid violence for the first time in the country in 1995.

It is known from the statements of the alleged acid-throwers that acid is available at battery and jewellery workshops, she added.

ASF Programme Officer Palash Chowdhury said ASF has initiated an advocacy campaign to check illegal supply of acid.