MPs pledge to sensitise people to fight HIV/AIDS

Lawmakers at a view exchange meeting yesterday expressed determination to act as “opinion leaders” to promote awareness of public about combating AIDS, a rising threat of Bangladesh.
Both treasury and opposition bench lawmakers also said they will actively work to eliminate stigma as well as discrimination associated with people with HIV positive.
Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali at the meeting assured both treasury and opposition bench lawmakers of holding talks if they raise the issue in parliament.
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and Peoples Empowerment Trust in association with Bangladesh Parliament organised the meeting at parliament members club to mark World AIDS Day to be observed tomorrow.
Presided over by the deputy leader, the meeting was addressed by Awami League (AL) lawmaker and chairperson of parliamentary standing committee on women and children affairs ministry Meher Afroz Chumki, Whip Sagufta Yasmin Emily, AL lawmaker Dr Murad Hassan, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbalur Rahim, Narayan Chandra Chanda, Ashma Zerin Jhumu, Shahin Monowara Haque, Begum Noor Afroz Ali, BNP lawmakers Mozahar Ali Pradhan, Shammi Akhter and Nilofar Chowdhury and Jatiya Party lawmaker Hafizuddin Ahmed.
The lawmakers, irrespective of their political identities, said they are ready to work to fight HIV/AIDS.
They called on the government to form a regulatory body to oversee the activities of NGOs working on HIV/AIDS.
Shawkat said lawmakers should play an active role in eradicating stigma in the society centring people with HIV positive.
“They [people with HIV positive] are the victims of circumstances but they are not to be despised,” he added.
The deputy speaker urged the lawmakers to raise the issue in parliament so that the speaker of the house can hold discussion on the issue.
Murad said, “NGOs get a handsome amount of foreign grants but we don't know whether they expend those fund in a right way or not. Therefore, a regulatory body is an imperative to oversee their activities.”
Iqbal urged the government not to scan only the homecoming expatriate Bangladeshi workers' health [whether they are HIV positive or not] in the airports, but also other passengers' health who stay abroad for work purpose.