Speakers at a discussion said on Monday that women are more affected by the harmful effects of environmental pollution.
‘Environmental pollution disproportionately impacts women's lives and livelihoods, exacerbating existing inequalities. Women become more dependent. They face various problems, including low income and poor health’.
They came up with the observations at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS) on the occasion of World Environment Day at the Laurel International School and College Auditorium in the capital on Monday.
Overall development is not possible with half of the country's population under threat. Therefore, collective steps must be taken to protect the environment, they said.
Laurel International School and College founding principal Md. Sirajul Islam, college vice-principal Shishir Mandal, Kochi Kantha High School principal Ashraful Alam, BNPS's Dhaka West Centre Manager Md. Helal Uddin, Karimunnesa Akand, Mahmuda Akand delivered their speeches with Hazaribagh Community Forum President Hosneyara Rafeza in the chair.
Speakers at a meeting said that climate change is causing global warming and rise of sea level, upsurging natural disasters, increasing health risks, and negatively impacting agriculture, economy, livestock, and fish production.
Industrial waste is polluting water and soil. Plastic is polluting soil, water, and causing waterlogging. Microplastics and other chemicals from pollution enter the bodies of humans and animals, causing them to suffer from various complex and fatal diseases, including cancer. It increases the crisis in women's lives.
Teachers and members of the youth team, women's team, and community forum of Laurel College, Kochi Kantho High School, Darun Najat Islamia Madrasa participated in the meeting.
