A significant dialogue titled “The Impact of Climate Change : Women’s Protection in Environmental Law” was held at the Anwara Begum-Munira Khan Auditorium in Dhaka, organized by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, on the date of June 16th, 2026 . The event brought together environmental experts, legal professionals, journalists, and activists to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and the urgent need for gender-responsive environmental legislation.
The dialogue was presided over by Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. The welcome address was delivered by Advocate Masuda Rehana, Joint General Secretary of the organization. The keynote presentation was made by Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Dean of the Environmental Science Department at Stamford University.
Esteemed discussants included environmental and climate activist Fariha Sultana Aumi, Ekushey Television Senior Reporter Shakera Arju Shimu, and Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid, who also serves as President of Human Rights & Peace for Bangladesh. The special guest was Md. Ziaul Haque, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment.
Advocate Masuda Rehana, Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, stated that the organisation has been implementing a wide range of programmes to protect and promote women’s human rights. Through its work on prevention and response, the organisation has observed that climate change exposes women to various health risks and undermines their safety and security. She emphasized that the environmental movement is intrinsically linked to the women’s rights movement and stressed the importance of enforcing environmental laws to protect women. She noted that the purpose of the dialogue was to identify practical measures for ensuring women’s protection through the effective implementation of environmental legislation. She also expressed the organisation’s commitment to making the environmental movement more inclusive and accessible to all.
Presenting the keynote paper, Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Dean of the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh, stated that climate change is not only an environmental crisis but also a critical human rights and social justice issue. He explained that women in Bangladesh, particularly those living in coastal and rural areas, are disproportionately affected by climate change compared to men. Because women are primarily responsible for collecting water, preparing food, caring for family members, and tending livestock, they face greater impacts from droughts, salinity intrusion, floods, and cyclones. During disasters, women are also more vulnerable to insecurity, health risks, and gender-based violence.
He noted that international environmental and climate agreements increasingly recognize the importance of women’s participation and protection. Similarly, Bangladesh’s Constitution, the Environmental Conservation Act, the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, and the National Adaptation Plan incorporate provisions relating to women’s protection and participation. Emphasizing the principles of climate justice, he stated that although women contribute least to climate change, they suffer its greatest consequences. Therefore, environmental laws and policies should ensure safe shelters, healthcare services, access to safe drinking water, alternative livelihoods, climate financing, and meaningful participation in decision-making for women. He further stressed the need to strengthen women’s access to disaster management, education, technology, early warning systems, land rights, and protection for climate-induced displacement. He recommended incorporating specific provisions on climate change and gender-responsive protection into environmental legislation. Concluding his presentation, he emphasized that women should be recognized not merely as victims but as key partners and agents of change in climate adaptation and resilience-building. Establishing gender-responsive environmental laws, policies, and justice systems, he noted, is essential to building a sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient society.
Environmental and climate activist Fariha Sultana Aumi shared experiences of women from Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Satkhira, and the Sundarbans region in coping with the challenges created by climate change. She emphasized that the perspectives of marginalized women must be reflected in the implementation of national policies and suggested developing a national action plan specifically for these women. She also called for legal provisions to protect women working to conserve coastal ecosystems and the Sundarbans.
Shakera Arju Shimu, Senior Reporter at Ekushey Television, stated that climate change is a multidimensional issue. She noted that river erosion separates many children from their families, forcing them into climate-induced migration and child labour at the expense of their childhood. She also highlighted the increased vulnerability of girls to violence. Stressing the need for coordinated action by both government and non-governmental organizations, she observed that although numerous laws exist to address environmental pollution and child labour, their implementation remains inadequate. She called for integrating women’s protection more comprehensively into national climate and environmental policies.
During the open discussion, participants including Lipi Rahman of Badabon Sangha, Proma Ishrat of CARE Bangladesh, Purabi Talukder of YWCA of Bangladesh, Shyamoli Roy of Caritas Bangladesh, Anannya Drong of Ku-Sal, and Humayun Kabir Sumon of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), among others, emphasized that women and children are disproportionately affected by climate change. They noted that climate-induced insecurity has contributed to an increase in child marriage in districts such as Bagerhat. Participants stressed the importance of ensuring the participation of marginalized women in decision-making processes and highlighted that climate change has intensified gender-based violence, migration, and human trafficking. They called for greater attention to women’s adaptation strategies, inclusion of environmental issues as a national policy priority, and stronger recognition of the vital role played by Indigenous women and women with disabilities in environmental protection. They further emphasized that while Bangladesh already has a number of strong environmental laws, greater efforts are needed to ensure their effective implementation.
Among the distinguished discussants, Advocate Manzill Murshid, Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and President of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), stated that environmental protection often requires legal intervention. He observed that effective enforcement of existing environmental laws could restore ecological balance and emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement. He noted that climate change is influenced by both domestic and international factors and remarked that environmental issues received far less attention fifty years ago than they do today, despite the growing environmental crisis. He stressed that raising awareness about river conservation is essential for preventing environmental degradation. To ensure the protection of women from the impacts of climate change, he recommended identifying measures both before and after climate-related disasters and ensuring the transparent and effective use of the Climate Trust Fund for affected communities.
Speaking as the special guest, Mr. Md. Ziaul Haque, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment, stated that women, children, and persons with disabilities are among the communities most severely affected by the impacts of climate change. He emphasized the need for stronger advocacy to ensure that women affected by climate-induced challenges receive adequate support through social protection programmes. He also stressed the importance of providing comprehensive basic services and assistance to climate-displaced people. Mr. Haque further underscored the need for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to work more closely to safeguard women’s rights. While noting that climate change is well reflected in existing policies, he emphasized that effective implementation is now the key priority. He also called for concerted efforts to improve the overall state of the environment.
Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, observed that humanity’s pursuit of its own interests has disrupted the balance of nature. She stressed the responsibility to protect the environment and natural resources for future generations. She identified climate change and gender-responsive protection as one of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad’s key advocacy priorities. Alongside addressing the climate crisis, she emphasized the need to tackle socio-economic inequalities through environmental protection initiatives. She highlighted the importance of recognizing and utilizing women’s capacities in climate change adaptation and called for stronger collaboration between environmental activists and the women’s movement.
The event was attended by leaders, executive committee members, and staff of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, along with representatives from the print and electronic media. The programme was moderated by Parveen Islam, Environment and Climate Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
