Dhaka: Health Minister Mohammad Nasim on Wednesday stressed the need for strengthening regional cooperation to fight against HIV/AIDS together in the South-East Asian region.

"Bangladesh will work together to eradicate HIV/AIDS in the South-East Asian countries by strengthening regional cooperation," he said.

The minister was talking to the representatives of Bhutan and Sri Lanka who are overseeing HIV/AIDS and transgender situation in South-East Asia region at his Secretariat office.

Despite having a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh, Nasin said the government has strengthened its awareness campaign across the country to eradicate the disease.

He said HIV/AIDS issue has already been inserted in school and college books aiming to make the young generation aware of AIDS.

The minister said transgender population has also been recognised as third gender in Bangladesh in 2013, and the government has taken various social schemes, including micro and soft loan, to create jobs for them.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malik, Sri Lankan State Minister for Urban Planning and Water Supply Sudarshani Farnandopulle, Bhutan's MP Sangay Khandu and Health Service Division Sirajul Haque Khan were, among others, present at the meeting.