The warning came at a press conference organised jointly by the BRCS and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

"We are taking an initiative to raise the fine for abusing or misusing the emblem to Tk 10,000," said BRCS Chairman Major General Z A Khan adding that at present a person or an organisation is liable to be fined only Tk 50 for misusing the emblem.

"Drug stores, private clinics, commercial ambulances, pharmaceutical companies and vehicles used by doctors are using the emblem knowingly or unknowingly that they are not authorised to do so," he added.

The BRCS chairman said the emblem is largely used by Armed Forces Medical Services and to identify persons, installations or vehicles belonging to Red Cross or Red Crescent societies that enjoy immunity from hostilities under the Geneva Convention.

Tony Maryon, Ofor Nwobodo and Vincent Nicod of the ICRC and BRCS Secretary General AFM Obaidur Rahman and member Khandakar Abdus Salam also spoke on the occasion.