This was revealed by the speakers at workshops held recently in Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur and Barisal districts to mark the World TB Day.

Brac, a major NGO in collaboration with the health department of the government, jointly organised the workshops in the five districts. This year's theme was 'Stop TB: Ensure Your Participation'.

The workshops were aimed at creating awareness among the civil society representatives about the measures to prevent and eradicate TB as well as ensuring and increasing their participation in this regard.

In Chittagong, the workshop was held at Chittagong Press Club auditorium.

It was presided over by Dr MA Zafar while the Deputy Director (Health) of Chittagong division Dr Tariqul Islam was the chief guest.

Chittagong City Corporation chief health officer Dr Md Sarfaraz Khan Chowdhury was the special guest.

Among others, senior health coordinator Md Abdus Salam, ward commissioner Rehana Kabir Ranu, The Daily Suprovat chief reporter M Nasirul Haque, BMA leader Dr Md Jasim Uddin, Teachers' Training College lecturer Mir Abu Saleh Shisir, Islamic Foundation deputy director Joynal Abedin and senior health coordinator of Brac Dr Mahfuza Yasmin addressed.

In Khulna, the workshop was held at Khulna Press Club auditorium. Khulna division commissioner Md Alimushan was present as the chief guest while divisional health director Dr AKM Sirajuddin, Principal of Khulna Medical College Dr Md Jafrullah, Khulna Medical College Hospital superintendent Dr Md Fazlur Karim, Khulna Press Club president Sheikh Abu Hasan and advocate Firoz Ahmed addressed as special guests.

Among them, CDC consultant Dr Anwarul Azad, WHO consultant ABM Touhidul Islam, Senior health coordinator of Brac Badiuzzaman and Khulna Medical College Hospital consultant Dr GC Biswas addressed.

In Sylhet, the workshop was held at Grameen Janakalyan Sangsad auditorium.

Presided over by Sylhet civil surgeon Dr A J Mahabub Ahmed, the workshop was attended by district health director Dr Md Asad Uddin as the chief guest. Divisional director of the Family Planning department Md Shamsul Haque, city commissioner Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Dr Sudhamoy Mojumdar, Sylhet City Corporation chief health officer Dr Azizur Rahman, Bangladesh Medical Practitioners' Association president and district president of Natab advocate Abdul Hye Khan were present as special guests.

Brac health coordiantor in Sylhet division Nazimuddin Bhuiyan gave the welcome speech while Brac senior health coordinator in Dhaka division Bivakor Roy presented the keynote papers.

In Rangpur, the workshop was held at Rangpur civil surgeon's (CS) office auditorium. Head of Medicine department of Rangpur Medical College Dr Kazi Md Jahangir was the chief guest.

Secretary of Rangpur unit of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Samsuzzaman, TB Control Programme president Sadrul Alam Dulu, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) representative Nurul Islam and non-government physicians' representative Dr Mafizul Islam were special guests.

In Barisal, the workshop was held at the Social Welfare Department auditorium. It was presided over by Barisal civil surgeon Dr Abdul Malek while Health director Dr Moklesur Rahman was present as the chief guest.

Senior health coordinator of Brac Head Office Tapan Kumar Ghosh presented different activities of Brac in this sector. Chest Disease Clinic junior consultant Dr Siddiqur Rahman focused on the role of city corporation and other organisations in combating the disease in the city.