The estimated number of TB carriers is around 188 per 1,00,000 population in Bangladesh, which stands fifth among the 22 high TB burden countries in the world, they said.

The National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (Natab) organised the press conference in the city yesterday.

Most of the TB patients in the country are infected with pulmonary TB as the infections are spread by coughs and sneezes from other infected persons, said the association leaders.

"An estimated one person dies from TB every ten minutes while one person gets infected every two minutes," said Dr Shawkat Hossain, secretary general of Natab, while exchanging views with the Health and Environment Journalists Forum, Bangladesh (HEJFB).

He said TB is a major health problem in the country, but little attention has been given to it due to fund crisis and lack of proper policy.

However, the government has started to take initiative in this regard after the Global Fund to fight Against Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) was formed in 2001.

The GFATM has already provided US $ 42.5 million to the Bangladesh government as well as non-government agencies, including the Brac, to implement a five year (2004-2009) project to reduce the number of TB cases.

"The real challenge is how to build and raise awareness about TB transmission," said Dr K Zaman, scientist of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR'B).

Natab Advisor Dr Nasir Uddin, Dr Akramul Islam of Brac, Dr Abdul Hamid Salim of Damien Foundation, founder-president of HEJFB Naimul Haq, incumbent President Mustafiz Shafi, Vice-President Rafiqul Islam Ratan and General Secretary Saiful Islam Shameem also spoke.