They urged the media to create awareness among the people to prevent the deadly disease and create an atmosphere so that people can talk freely about HIV/AIDS, which is likely to kill 45 million people across the world by 2010.

The roundtable was jointly organised by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the Bangladesh Observer at the National Press Club in the afternoon.

Moderated by Editor of the Bangladesh Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the roundtable was addressed, among others, by Information Minister Tariqul Islam, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mizanur Rahman Sinha, Unicef Country Representative to Bangladesh Morten Giersing, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the National AIDS Council Dr Motiur Rahman and Dr Tasnim Azim of ICDDR,B.

Tariqul appreciated the role of media in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh.

Morten Giersing said 23 million people have so far died of HIV/AIDS and this number might rise to 45 million across the world by 2010.

Morten said HIV/AIDS is spreading alarmingly and young boys and girls are most vulnerable to these diseases.

Dr Motiur Rahman emphasised prevention of the disease through dissemination of information by media to save lives.