This year 370 HIV infections have been detected in the country, along with 95 AIDS cases and 82 related deaths.
The information was disclosed by Health Secretary MM Niazuddinin at an exhibition programme held on Sunday at the Bangladesh International Conference Centre (BICC) to mark World AIDS Day.
He said the number of new HIV infections was 338 in 2012, while the number of patients with AIDS was 103 – with 65 dying from the disease.
The first HIV case diagnosed in Bangladesh was in 1989.
He stressed the need to create awareness to counter the stigma attached to the disease, and said its prevalence in Bangladesh was still low, with a recent figure putting the number of people living with HIV at 3,241.
However, the UN estimates the actual number to be between 8,000 and 16,000, which means many cases are left undetected and untreated.
World AIDS Day was observed on Sunday in the city with an elaborate programme to raise awareness of HIV. The programme is aimed especially at youths, to help prevent the spread of the disease in the country.
In a joint initiative of the National AIDS/STD Programme, the Health Ministry and various NGOs, a procession was brought out on Manik Mia Avenue and an exhibition was held at the BICC, reports BSS.
The theme this year was “Three Zeros: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.”
Health Minister Rowshan Ershad, who inaugurated the day at the BICC as the guest of honour, also emphasised the need for awareness in order to control HIV infections.
She said: “Most of the people in Bangladesh do not have enough knowledge regarding AIDS and HIV, in particular married women and the younger generation should be educated about the disease to enable its prevention.” The minister urged all people to work together to achieve the target of ‘the three zeros’ by 2015.
President of the network PLHIV Habiba Akhter said very few HIV patients have been given Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment, and that many have remained without treatment because of the social stigma.
She said intensive campaigns to increase awareness are needed across the country in order to remove the social stigma and misconception about HIV.
Speakers at the programme also called for regular blood tests for sex workers and drug addicts.
Other speakers were Director General of the Health Service Prof Dr Khandaker M Sefayetullah, UNAIDS Country Coordinator Dr Leo Kenny, WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Tushara Fernando, and Bangladesh Medical and Association Secretary General Dr Iqbal Arsalan.
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, and to show international solidarity in the face of the epidemic. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to disseminate information about the disease, and to encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment around the world, particularly in high prevalence countries.