Speakers at a seminar in the port city yesterday underscored the need for proper education among the women to create competent leadership for fighting AIDS and social problems prevailing in the South and South East Asian region. Asian University of Women (AUW) organised the seminar on 'Leadership in a time of crisis: A personal journey in the campaign against HIV/AIDS in Malaysia' at a local hotel. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, daughter of former prime minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad and a prominent journalist, presented a keynote speech as the chief guest. Former adviser to a caretaker government and Chairman of AUW Bangladesh Advisory Board Rokia Afzal Rahman and member Monowara Hakim Ali were present as the special guests at the seminar. AUW Director (Planning and Logistics) architect Zarina Hossain and Dean of AUW Access Academy Helen Claire Sievers also spoke. Marina Mahathir in her speech said public awareness and proper education is key to fight AIDS that has become an alarming issue in different countries in the region. In Malaysia, around 80,000 people have so far been identified as HIV positives since 1985, she presented a data, adding that the number was only 6,000 when she started her campaign in 1993 and the number rose to 36,000 in 2000. Terming ignorance of the people and their negligence to learn about the fatal disease as main reason behind such rise of the disease in her country, Marina, who was elected president of the Malaysian AIDS Council for six terms, said they had not started the public awareness programme earlier. Marina said learning is a very journey but it's also very worthy, and we should not neglect our life since it's short but an invaluable gift too. "One of the most important components to fight HIV/Aids in this region is religion because religious people can play a vital role in the campaign against the fatal disease,' she added. She observed that a purposeful and coordinated effort in creating public awareness against AIDS by different local and foreign non-government organisations has helped control the rise of AIDS in Bangladesh. Sharing her experience while working in different sectors, Rokia mentioned that a dramatic change has taken place in the female education sector in the country since the liberation war in 1971. At present around 60 percent female students are getting enrolment in the primary education, while it was only 30 percent during the 70s, she said, adding that while it was very difficult for the NGOs to employ educated female workers for different development activities in 1980s, now they can easily find many highly educated females with BBA and MBA degrees. Knowledge brings a lot of confidence among the female as well as to make them capable for different jobs, she said. Laying emphasis on women empowerment, Rokia said, "We now want the girls to be educated to ensure women empowerment.' Praising the efficiency that the students of the first batch of AUW have achieved in last four months since they started their course in April this year, Rokia hoped that they would definitely be the future leaders in the region. AUW Access Academy Executive Director Dr B Regina Papa said the university has an international outlook but it would reflect the aspirations of the people in Asia. Dr Dil Afroze Quader, special adviser to the vice chancellor of AUW, gave the vote of thanks.