The programme was to start in June 2002 after official estimates that about 22,000 children die every year from chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) came to light.

In 2002, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) committed to providing hepatitis-B vaccines worth about $40 million for all children under one year for free over a five-year period under Bangladesh's Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI).

But EPI officials attaching greater priority to polio eradication diverted part of the GAVI funds to 'sub-national immunisation programme' in several areas, delaying anti-hepatitis-B vaccination.

Studies show that the vaccine is 98 percent effective in preventing children and adults from chronic infection.

About five percent people in Bangladesh are chronically infected with the deadly virus.

Hepatitis-B virus is transmitted through body fluids, sexual contacts, unsafe blood transfusion and sharing of needles. Sweat, saliva and other body secretions do not pose any serious threat if one practises safety measures.

Anybody infected with the virus may develop liver cancer or cirrhosis that damages liver.

An estimated 10 lakh of about 50 lakh people chronically infected with the virus in Bangladesh are at risk of dying from liver cirrhosis and cancer, the World Health Organisa-tion says.