Durjoy President Shahnaz Begum said the sex workers in Bangladesh contributed a lot in curbing AIDS since they frankly discuss the issue and make utmost effort to 'stop AIDS.

Hajera Begum, project director of Realising the Rights of Sex Workers' Children, explained how they carried out the awareness programmes at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, Nari Unnayan Shakti, a national development NGO, organised week-long programmes in different parts of the country to mark the World AIDS Day, says a press release.

The programmes, including rally, discussion and cultural show, ended on Saturday.

Backed by the Unicef, Capacity Building Project, DSS, UNDP and Ministry of Labour and Employment, the programmes were held in Dhaka, Chittagong, Pabna, Barisal and Noakhali.

At the closing session of the event at Kuril in Dhaka, a rally and a cultural show were held.

NUS also awarded the Best Peer Educators who are working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Its Executive Director Afroja Parvin gave away the prizes.

At present, NUS is running seven outdoor clinics to combat HIV/AIDS and treat STDs as well as provide support to HIV positive people.