Deputy Leader of the House Prof AQM Badniddoza Chowdhury yesterday said more than 55 thousand cancer patients die every year without any treatment in the country, reports UNB.

The disclosure by Prof Chowdhury. came at a three-day workshop on "National Cancer Control Programme" at the College of Physicians and Surgeons here.

The workshop Is Jointly sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and organised by the Cancer Institute and Research

Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest. Prof Chowdhury said cancer cases were mounting in the world as well as In Bangladesh.

Though cancer is a deadly disease, it is easy to prevent and control by creating aware-

ness about Its causes and Its first symptoms." he said. Bangladesh government Is firmly determined to eliminate* the disease from the country, he told the function, adding "it's our political commitment to free people from the killer disease".

International help and experience are necessary to control cancer in Bangladesh, he said and called upon the social workers and NGO activists to come forward to create awareness among the people about cancer.

Presided over by Prof Mohammed Nurun Nabi, Director General of Health, the inaugu* ml session was also addressed, among others, by Deputy Minister for Health Sirajul Huq. Dr Jan Stjernswad, WHO representative In Geneva. Prof M Abdul Hye. Director of Cancer Institute, and Prof SK Sharma.

The speakers expressed deep concern over the Increase of

•cancer patients in the country and stressed the need for a pragmatic and low-cost national programme to prevent the dis-

They called upon all concerned to come forward with patriotic zeal for creating aware ncss among the people for pre vention and control of the killer disease which attack about two lakh people In Bangladesh every year.

Out of the two lakh, one and half a lakh people die of the killer disease every year, they said, adding 50 per cent of the patients could be cured if the disease was identified at early

Dr Jan StjcrnswArd informed that about 15, million people were being attacked by cancer every year throughout the world.

Dr Abdul Hye said there were some 8 lakh cancer pa-Uents at present In the country.