Acid attack suspect jailed in fake cosmetic case

A Bangladeshi court has sentenced a man accused of throwing acid on a student to two years in jail for making fake cosmetics.

Police said they learnt the man, Monir Uddin, was running a counterfeit cosmetics and energy drink operation after remanding him for the acid attack. A court has now sentenced Monir to two years in jail for manufacturing fake toothpaste, shampoo and other personal care products.

"Monir, a medical representative by profession, has some basic knowledge of various chemicals and drugs which he used to manufacture acid, fake medicines and cosmetics," Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police media centre, told The Daily Star.

The acid attack was reportedly retaliation for a marriage refusal. Such attacks have become less common in Bangladesh - falling from 494 in 2002 to 71 last year, according to the Acid Survivors Foundation - but are still a problem across South Asia.