About 252 persons died of malaria during the last year in Bangladesh and 70 upazilas under 13 districts in the country have been marked as vulnerable to malaria in the country. These districts include Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Bandarban, Rangam-ati, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Sunam-ganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Sherpur and Kurigram. This information was disclosed at a discussion styled 'role of the media for controlling malaria' held at the conference room of the Cox's Bazar zila parishad Thursday morning. The Bangladesh government and some non-government organisations are working for controlling the disease said the speakers, adding that a total of $39.06 has already been sanctioned by the world health organisation under its global fund aid for controlling tuberculosis and malaria in Bangladesh. ABM Lutful Kabir, civil surgeon, Cox's Bazar, was in the chair while Arifur Rahman Apu, additional deputy commissioner, Cox's Bazar, attended the function as chief guest. Professor MA Bari, chairman, Cox's Bazar Ma o Shishu hospital, Dr Ajyo Ghos, upazila health and family planning officer, Cox's Bazar and Atahar Iqbal, president, Cox's Bazar press club, attended as special guests. Mohammad Nurul Islam, general secretary, Cox's Bazar press club, Dr Protik Sen, health co-coordinator, BRAC, Dhaka, Ashish Ban-erjee, district manager, BRAC, Cox's bazar, Pritous Paul Pintu, and SM Aminul Hoque Chowdhury spoke at the discussion, among others. Around 50 participants from among journalists of local and national newspapers, different NGOs, electronic media, and government officials were present.