Climate change and environmental pollution are negatively affecting women’s reproductive health, speakers said at an event in Dhaka.
The observation was made at a conference on “Impact of Climate Change and Protection of Women under Environmental Laws,” organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Tuesday as part of World Environment Day observance.
Representatives from various development organisations and professions took part in the event, where discussions throughout the day focused on the challenges faced by women due to environmental degradation and climate change. A 30-minute open discussion session was also held.
Environmental activist Fariha Sultana said salinity intrusion in coastal areas has led many women and adolescent girls to undergo surgical removal of the uterus.
A women’s development worker said that in haor regions, rising water levels during the monsoon, along with lack of safe water and sanitation, force many girls to use contraceptive pills to delay menstruation.
Speakers at the conference noted that climate change has been debated for decades, but recent studies show its impacts are increasingly direct and severe for women.
They added that institutional discrimination, economic hardship, and traditional caregiving roles make women – especially in rural areas – more vulnerable to extreme climate impacts.
According to United Nations data cited at the event, women are 14 times more likely to die during disasters than men, largely due to limited access to information, restricted mobility, low participation in decision-making, and unequal access to resources.
It was also stated that four out of every five climate-displaced people are women and girls.
In the keynote paper, Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, dean of the Faculty of Science and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh, said women are least responsible for climate change but suffer the most from its consequences.
Lawyer Manzill Murshid said environmental laws exist on paper but are not being properly enforced in practice.
Md Ziaul Haque, additional director general (in charge) of the Department of Environment, discussed legal developments related to tree conservation, air pollution control, and waste management. He also said the department has proposed collaboration with Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted issues including health, urban migration, NGO roles, and disaster management. They noted that women often face insecurity and increased risk of violence, including sexual violence, during major cyclones and disasters.
Several speakers also proposed forming platforms to build pressure for effective implementation of women-focused climate policies.
The programme was chaired by Mahila Parishad President Fauzia Moslem, with opening remarks from General Secretary Masuda Rehana Begum and conducted by Environmental Secretary Parveen Islam.
