Acid Burns 6-Month-Old Baby’s Ear, Genitals; Neighbor Accused Of Attack

A six-month-old baby in Bangladesh was rushed to a hospital after she suffered from acid burns on her ear and genitals.

The incident took place in the central city of Gazipur, and the victim was identified as Afia Meem, daughter of Imran Hossain.

The father of the child blamed his neighbor for the attack, media outlet the Daily Star reported. The man allegedly threw acid on the right ear and genitals of the baby when she was alone in the front yard of the house.

After throwing the acid, the accused – identified by his first name Shamsunnahar – fled the scene.

Hossain filed a complaint with the local police after finding his daughter injured. He told the police Shamsunnahar committed the crime because of a dispute with him.

The child received initial treatment at Birdem hospital in Dhaka, following which she was taken to Kapasia Health Complex. Abdus Slam, health and planning officer of Kapasia upazila health complex, told the Daily Star they found signs of acid burns. Slam added the child was being referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to the seriousness of the injuries.

Meanwhile, the police said one person has been taken into custody in connection with the attack and an investigation is underway.

In a horrific incident in India last month, a woman was arrested for setting her 5-month-old baby on fire, which resulted in the child's death. Police told local media that the woman, identified as Guddi Singh, "is stated to be mentally unstable."

"The counselors are taking care of her," police sub-inspector Manoj Singh said, the Hindustan Times reported at the time. Police also said the woman was allegedly being treated by a "sorcerer."

“Prima facie, it has surfaced that both Guddi Singh and her husband Pushpraj have psychological issues. On Dec. 25, the husband and wife had a quarrel over some petty issue,” Singrauli superintendent of police Virendra Baghel told the Times of India, adding the woman was alone in the house when she set the baby ablaze.

“She wrapped up the baby and set fire to it. On seeing the infant burn, she threw the baby to one side and hid in a pile of hay," Baghel said, the Times of India reported.