Bangladesh is making good progress in raising awareness about autism, but more must be done to identify and to help those affected by the disease, the head of the country’s National Autism Advisory Council (NAAC) says. “Just two years ago few people knew about the disease. Autistic children were considered mad and were barred from schools. They were simply considered a burden on families and society,” said Saima Hossain, the NAAC chairwoman. Hossain, who is the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was speaking to government officials, professionals and journalists at a meet the press session on autism organized by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka yesterday. “The government has started working to spread awareness and help autistic children across the country,” she said, adding that five government ministries are involved in the effort. However, identifying autism is very difficult she said and called for more people to be trained to do so. “Professional training is required identify children affected by autism. Those who work at community level should be trained to deal with this condition.” World Health Organization official Aloka Guha said Bangladesh has made great progress in dealing with autism. “It is really difficult to work with autism. What the government has tried to do over last two years is really laudable and inspiring to other countries,” she said.