23/02/2026
Shamsul in his afternoon prayer
Shamsul Hoque is 30 years old and from Thakurgaon in North-eastern Bangladesh. Shamsul used to have a small shop where he repaired TVs and electronics. He was doing business together with a friend, who had a tailor shop next door to his shop. Business went okay for Shamsul, and he started lending a bit of money to his friend, who was in trouble. After some time Shamsul realised that his friend was not willing to repay the loan. The shop that his friend occupied also belonged to Shamsul, and the friend did not want to pay for electricity and water either. Shamsul was not happy with the situation. In the beginning the two were best friends, but then Shamsul’s friend got married and things started to change. Their relationship became more and more problematic.
One night Shamsul is asleep, in his shop. It is dark, and suddenly his friend comes into the room and throws a bucket of acid over him. The acid comes all over Shamsul’s face and body and also runs into his eyes.
The incidence happened one night in April 2007. Shamsul cannot remember the exact date and time. After the acid attack, Shamsul was rushed to the medical college in the nearby district town of Dineshpur. Shamsul’s condition was severe, and the hospital was not able to treat him properly and to keep him alive. More that 60 per cent of Shamsul’s body had been seared by the strong acid.
Some people from the non-governmental organisation BRAC heard about the case and came to the hospital. They got Shamsul transported to the City Hospital in Dhaka, where he was kept alive. Then he was admitted to the ASF’s hospital in Dhaka. Here they were able to save his life and get him through the critical time.
In the meantime, Shamsul’s friend, who threw acid at him, had gone to India. After some time, Shamsul’s friend came back to Thakurgaon, to continue with his business. One week after the incidence, a case was filed with police case against Shamsul’s friend. The police told Shamsul and his family that it was too late to file such a case, and they therefore did not want to take the case further. After some time Shamsul and his family gave up. Later, BRAC filed a case against the perpetrator. “I think that the case has gone to the High Court, but I am not sure. I do not think that anything will happen to him. Now it has five years ago that he attacked me, and he is still living with his family and doing business in Thakurgaon. So why should anything happen to him now? There are hundred thousands of unsolved court cases in Bangladesh. I just pray to Allah”, Shamsul says. Shamsul still comes to Dhaka for treatment, even though the acid attack happened five years ago.
Shamsul does not know exactly why his friend threw acid at him. “I borrowed him 2000 Taka (25 US dollars), which he did not want to repay. Maybe that was the reason. Another reason could be that he was jealous at me. I had bought a small piece of land, where I had built a small wooden hut. My business was doing fine, and I upgraded the hut with a tin roof. Later on, I made the hut into a real building. Maybe he was jealous at me”, Shamsul says. One of Shamsul’s neighbours was not friendly, either. One day when they were playing football, the neighbour and his friend did not accept the defeat against Shamsul’s team. A quarrel broke out, and they became enemies. “The football match could have been another reason for why they attacked with acid. Maybe my neighbour was also involved in the acid attack, because now the two are doing business together in my town”, Shamsul continues.
Shamsul got married in January 2007, just three months before he got attacked with acid. Shamsul has one son, who is now three years old. “My wife wants to live with me, but her family will not allow it, because I was attacked with acid. My wife and son live with her family now. Her family does not allow that they see me. I am alone now and depends entirely on my old parents”, Shamsul tells.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Focal Length: 52.0 mm (50.7 mm in 35mm)
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.01667s (1/60)
ISO: 500
Date Taken: 2012-03-07 16:00:37
Date Modified: 2012-03-07 16:00:37
