Revisiting the National Law and Policy Framework Addressing the Rights of the Climate-Affected Rural Women in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, faces increasing challenges due to rising sea levels, floods, cyclones, and droughts. Rural women, particularly those who are engaged in agriculture and dependent on natural resources, are among the most vulnerable ones. They also experience disproportionate socio-economic impacts due to pre-existing gender inequalities in Bangladesh. The national legal and policy framework in Bangladesh has been developed to address the major issues of climate change and disaster management, but there are critical gaps in how these laws protect the rights and well-being of climate-affected rural women.

This paper examines the national legislation of Bangladesh that addresses the rights and needs of climate-affected rural women, evaluating its effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement. It revisits laws and policies related to climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and women’s rights, with a focus on their alignment with international frameworks like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other international instruments. This paper will also identify the status of rural women in Bangladesh regarding access to necessities of the citizens, participation in decision-making, and protection from gender-based violence in climate-affected regions and recommend better policy suggestions to improve the situation.