Nearly 50 Bangladeshi women, victims of acid attacks...

Nearly 50 Bangladeshi women, victims of acid attacks by jilted lovers or family foes, led a rally through the streets of Dhaka to mark International Women's Day, openly displaying their scars.
Thousands of Bangladeshis, men and women, gathered in separate demonstrations, calling for an end to cruelty against women that has left hundreds killed or maimed in recent years.
"Usually we observe the day every year to drive home women's rights to freedom and equality with men," said Shirin Akhtar, president of Karmojibi Nari, or Working Women.
"But this year the day has become a day of protest against spiralling cruelty against women in Bangladesh."
Women working with government and non-government organisations, teachers, lawyers, journalists, actors, artists and housewives joined the protests.
Statistics revealed by police and private groups said the number of attacks on women had increased alarmingly over just the past two months, when at least four girls committed suicide after being gang-raped.
A recent survey by the Bangladesh Acid Survivors' Foundation said nearly 250 people, mostly women, received severe burn injuries in 2001 against about 200 in 2000. "Young women who refused love offers or did not submit to illicit affairs were victimised," said foundation member Samanta Lal Sen.
Another study by women rights group Naripakkha said at least 140 women were killed and 45 others tortured in the 14 months to February by husbands or relatives because the brides' parents were unable to pay a dowry. It said about 900 women and children were raped across Bangladesh during the 14 months, including nearly 60 in February alone. Bangladesh has laws setting harsh punishments for crimes against women, including the death penalty for rape and murder, but they are rarely enforced.