TDS Desk

A seminar was organized on the occasion of World AIDS Day, focusing on the theme of the rights of key populations in Bangladesh. The event took place on Saturday, November 30, at 11 AM in the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, under the Health and WASH Sector of the organization.

As an honorable guest at the seminar, Dr. Ronawok Khan, Chief of Party of the HIV/AIDS Program at Save the Children, stated, “Today, key populations, including PWID (People Who Inject Drugs) and sex workers, are deprived of their rightful access to health protection and various government social security services. They face gender-based violence in nearly every aspect of society.”  She expressed hope that all organizations would come forward in the future to support their welfare.

Dr. Saima Khan, Country Director of UNAIDS Bangladesh, attended the seminar as the guest of honor. In her speech, she stated that key populations are often deprived of basic human rights and are subjected to oppression in various ways by individuals from different classes and professions in society. She emphasized that it is everyone’s collective responsibility to ensure their fundamental rights and security as human beings.

The keynote was presented by Ezazul Islam Chowdhury, Advisor for Advocacy and Human Rights in the HIV/AIDS Program of Save the Children.

Iqbal Masud, Director of the Health and WASH Sector, presided over the seminar. He stated, “We are committed to building an HIV-free Bangladesh. Our vision is that by 2030, Bangladesh will be recognized as a prosperous country free from AIDS on the global stage.”

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) National Program Coordinator (Drugs and HIV/AIDS) in Bangladesh, Md. Abu Taher, along with Dr. Md. Anwarul Islam, Medical Officer of ASP, attended the seminar as honorable guests. Additionally, Abdur Rahman, Executive Director of Ashar Alo Society, Ms. Mukti, Executive Director of Mukt Akash Bangladesh, and Abul Basar Paltu, Executive Director of APOSH, were among the speakers at the seminar. Md. Kamruzzaman, Program Manager of the HIV Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, delivered the welcome speech.