13,000 adults HIV positives in Bangladesh

Quoting a survey of the World Health Organisation, they said HIV prevalence among the IDU (injecting drug users) has risen to four percent which is only one percent below the concentrated epidemic level.

They said there are 46 lakh drug users in the country of whom 20,000 are IDU.

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The workshop titled 'Divisional Sensitisation Workshop on HIV Risk Reduction' was organised by South-South Centre, in partnership with Family Health International, in Rajshahi on Tuesday.

The purpose of the workshop was to sensitise the divisional level officials, NGOs, representatives of print and electronic media, and other stakeholders about the danger of HIV/AIDS.

"Our great concern is that Bangladeshis is in a very vulnerable position to this epidemic as it is surrounded by two neighbouring countries- India and Nepal- that are highly infected with HIV," said Md Mosleh Uddin, commissioner of Rajshahi Division.

He said it is very difficult to stop the spread of the epidemic if HIV prevalence crosses the concentration level.

He also cautioned that most of the IDU are poor and involved with anti-social activities with high-risk behaviour as they share the needles and syringes, and are involved in unprotected sex.

Nur Mohammad, deputy inspector general of police, said experiences of some Muslim countries like Indonesia and Iran and some states of India showed the fueling of HIV epidemic among IDUs when members of law enforcing agencies are not aware of the issue.

He, therefore, stressed the need of educating the members of law enforcing agencies about the complex dynamics of the epidemic.

"Drug users are not criminals, rather they are patients and they should be treated accordingly," he added.

Dr Reaz Uddin, divisional director (health ), urged the government and non-government organisations to initiate discussions with concerned officials and civil society members to create a congenial environment to implement effective harm reduction programme in order to stop the spread of HIV infection among the high-risk groups.