It was jointly organised by the Centre for Communication and Development (CCD), an NGO and CARE Bangladesh.

The workshop was inaugurated by Gaibandha Civil Surgeon Dr. Habibur Rahman while Deputy Commissioner Tapon Chandra Majumder attended the concluding session as the chief guest.

Md. Mosihur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Mass Communication Department at Rajshahi University and Dr. Nazrul Islam, Programme Development Officer of CARE were present as resource persons at the workshop, conducted by Shahana Parveen, Programme Co-coordinator of CCD.

Quoting from a report of Bangladesh Aids Information and Development Services (BAIDS), it was disclosed at the workshop that one person died of AIRD in Gaibandha. But the victim's name was not disclosed.

Quoting a report of virology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka, it was told at the workshop that 57 people were attacked with AIDS in the country and 30 of them died. Besides, 363 others are carrying HYV virus.

According to a government report, an AIDS patient was first detected in 1989. In the last 14 years, the number increased alarmingly.

A report of UNAIDS on Global HIV/ASIDS Epidemic -2003 said that till November 2003, 13000 people were attacked with HYV/AIDS virus in Bangladesh. Of that 3,100 were female and 310 children.

The HIV victims are mainly sex workers, professional blood donors and drug addicts

According to a study by UNICEF, at least 88 percent young men and 96 percent young women in Bangladesh still do not know the exact reason for HIV/AIDS attack.

A limited percentage of urban people knew about HIV/AIDS but it is completely unheard of in rural Bangladesh, the report said.

In the concluding session, the DC said although journalists can play a major role to create awareness against HIV/AIDS, it is the responsibility of all to launch a mass campaign to create awareness about HIV.

A total 33 journalists representing national and local dailies participated in the work shop.