TV Talk Show on Women and Disasters in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh - Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP), a government implemented UNDP supported largest Disaster Management programme in Bangladesh, in collaboration with RTV, a popular private TV channel in Bangladesh, is broadcasting a special talk show under different thematic areas on Disaster Management in Bangladesh on the eve of National Disaster Preparedness day.

There was an exclusive episode dedicated on women in disaster management and the discussants were Mohammad Abdul Wazed, Director General for Disaster Management Department, GoB; Professor Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen, Director for Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies from Dhaka University and Dilruba Haider, Coordinator, Gender and Climate Change, UN Women. The show was moderated by Muhammad Abdul Quyyum, National Project Director (Additional Secretary, GoB) of CDMP. The highlight of the discussions were around women’s role in disaster period, their vulnerability, their fight back story, and how Bangladeshi women became immeasurable power in disasters period and also became a global model.

Summary of the Discussions

We cannot deny the importance of integrating gender issues in the disaster management. Disaster management seems impossible if women are ignored. There are several reasons which make women more vulnerable during disasters since they remain solely responsible for home management, ensuring water, food and care work for the family members. Basically, during disaster period, men tend to loose job and search for work outside whereas women deal with the household responsibilities. Also, they have less mobility than men which is a greater hindrance for getting access to the early warning. At the same time, since the men of the house are missing, they have to take the responsibilities of men as well. So, for all these reasons, women become more vulnerable after disaster period. Pregnant women face reproductive health troubles in such situation.

But, if the greater scenario of Bangladesh is being considered we can see that Bangladesh has been under leadership of women for a long time. So, women do find themselves capable of being a leader. The rural women are successfully fighting against disaster and dealing with the crisis management. They are learning by doing which definitely empowered them to a greater extent! The Government of Bangladesh has also taken effective initiatives like SoD, disaster policy, National Plan for Disaster Management through which women get institutional support and nurture this empowering status of women. Also, after disaster, the need of toilet for women, privacy of women, safety of adolescent girls, pregnant women’s treatments are major concern of the government.

Earlier, there used to be no greater management during disaster period. But, people could survive and women were solely responsible for ensuring the basic needs of the family. So, they already have their local knowledge regarding disaster management. This knowledge is needed to be enhanced in a systematic way through ensuring their proper access to the information. And the government of Bangladesh is integrating gender issues in all works of disaster management. Last month, Sendai Framework for Disaster was formed in Japan and the good news is Bangladesh is ahead in this business since women work in several phases of disaster management. Now, we need to empower them more into the leadership procedure.

This is definitely a major concern that the Violence against Women becomes acute after disaster. In fact, after Katrina in USA, a lot of women were raped. There is no denying fact that sexual harassment is a major problem in Bangladesh after disaster. But, the good news is, the scenario is not as worse as the USA after Katrina scenario. In fact, the boys who mostly take part in harassment in the community take care of the shelter center in a post disaster area.