Speakers at a seminar yesterday stressed the need to incorporate women in all development issues to ensure sustainable development in the country.

They said though women play an important role during the disaster using their indigenous knowledge, they are ignored in the environment laws and disaster management policies.

Environmental risk and disaster can be reduced through incorporating women in the environment and disaster management policies, they said.

The seminar styled 'Women, environment and disaster: our society and gender identification' was jointly organised by the Department of Sociology of Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa) at TSC auditorium in the city marking the World Environment Day.

In her keynote paper, Dr Mahbuba Nasrin, a professor of the sociology department, said a village woman utilises her indigenous knowledge in combating disaster.

Women engage in perpetual struggle to manage and distribute food to their families to survive during the natural disasters like flood, draught, famine or monga (a famine like situation), she said, adding they also toil over rearing up children, collecting drinking water and looking after the domestic animals.

Despite their contribution, women are constantly becoming victims of patriarchy and gender discrimination, she said.

Mahbuba also said women's participation is vital in formulation and implementation of a gender sensitive policy.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), said though women are helpless in the disaster, they are the most courageous.

When a man engages himself busy in saving his own life, a woman tries to save her child along with the most necessary households with her, he said.

Though there are environmental laws in the country, it is rarely implemented due to lack of good governance, he said, adding lack of good governance is responsible for the sufferings of the nation.

Prof Harun-Ar-Rashid, dean of the Social Science Faculty, said the relationship between human being and environment is inseparable and if any environmental changes take place, it affects the human being too.

Women are the worst affected of natural disaster as they are very close to the environment, he said.

He also said good governance and social movement on environment is essential for environmental development.

"Women as a stakeholder should be incorporated in all the development issues to ensure sustainable development of the country", he said.

Bapa Vice President Quazi Madina said the natural disaster is the major obstacles for the country's development and the women are the worst affected, as they do not have the chance to enjoy socio-economic and cultural facilities like the man.

Presided over by Dr MAminul Islam, the seminar was also addressed by Prof Dr Rangalal Sen, of the sociology department.

Meanwhile, Jica Alumni Association of Bangladesh organised a seminar titled 'Growing Environmental Pollution in Bangladesh' at Centre for Excellence auditorium on Dhaka University campus yesterday on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Resident Representative of Jica in Bangladesh Nobuko Suzuki Kayashima said Jica has started collaboration with different government agencies of Bangladesh through a number projects on environmental management since 1992. The results of those joint projects were found satisfactory, she added.

She also urged all to work sincerely so that the future generation can inherit a safe and healthy environment from their ancestors.

Speaking as the chief guest, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University Prof Lutfor Rahman Khan spoke about adverse effects of the degraded environment on the agriculture.

Jica Alumni Association President Azmal Hossain chaired the seminar while General Secretary Ijar Udain, Vice Chairman of Institute of Engineers Bangladesh Syed Mahfuz Ahmed and Dr Abul Hossain spoke there.

Besides, a seminar on 'Melting Ice: Risks for Bangladesh' was also held at the Department of Geography and Environment of Dhaka University (DU) to mark the World Environment Day.

It was organised by the geography department, DU Disaster Research Training and Management Centre (DRTMC) and Christian Aid Bangladesh in association with Heed Bangladesh and Practical Action.

Chaired by Prof AQM Mahbub, chair of the department, the seminar was also addressed by DU Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, also chair of the DRTMC, Prof Tazmeri SA Islam, dean of Faculty of Sciences, Tanja Haque, country representative of Christian Aid Bangladesh and Prof Abdul Baqi, director of DRTMC.

Before the seminar, a colourful procession was brought out that paraded different roads of the campus.