Women, the primary caregiver in family, are the most vulnerable group to climate change, said the speakers at a seminar yesterday. They also laid emphasis on gender-sensitive adaptation of climate change and disaster management. The speakers said the poorer the women are, the higher are their vulnerability and sufferings. They called for women's empowerment as well as gender sensitive awareness programme to cope with the situation. The seminar titled 'Climate change, gender and special vulnerable groups in Bangladesh' was organised jointly by the Centre for Global Change (CGC), UNDP, Department For International Development (DFID), Climate Change Cell of environment department, and Bastob, an NGO, at the auditorium of archaeology department. In her keynote speech, Sharmind Neelormi, associate professor of Jahangirnagar University, said gender analysis promotes an understanding that men and women are differently affected by climate- driven hazards. Sharmind said during a natural catastrophe, woman has to maintain personal hygiene, ensure supply of safe drinking water, cook for the family, take the burden of post-processing all agriculture produce, maintain a courtyard garden and many other things simultaneously. "The male members of the family can go outside for work but the women have to stay inside the house and face everything,' she added. Speaking as chief guest, Adviser for Women and Children Affairs Rasheda K Chowhdhury said people are adapting with the changed climate situation and coping with the natural disasters. "So we need to raise our voice for compensation and not fund for adaptation,' she added. Rasheda also demanded environmental justice from the developed countries responsible for global warming. She said a little intervention by the government may mean a lot to marginal poor women. Danish Ambassador Einer H Jensen was present there as special guest. He assured his country's continued support for the people of Bangladesh to reduce their vulnerability to climate change. Chaired by Meherunisa Ahmed of Bastob, the programme was also addressed by CGC Executive Director Ahsan Uddin Ahmed and Bastob Executive Director Ruhi Das.