Kalapara’s Dulali Begum takes her climate fight to COP29

Dulali Begum is renowned in her community, not only for being a former elected member of the Tiakhali union parishad in Kalapara, Patuakhali, but also for her environmental and social activism.

She is more widely recognised for her activism than her political career, evident by her membership in various organisations, including the Kalapara Environment and Public Safety Forum, the Women's Development Forum of Kalapara upazila, and the Madhya Tiakhali Community Clinic Committee, among others.

"Since I was a child, I have loved engaging with people and helping others," Dulali told The Business Standard after returning from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. ActionAid Bangladesh facilitated her trip to the conference, where she represented marginalised communities directly impacted by climate change.

Dulali had the opportunity to deliver a speech, interact with people and journalists from around the world, and share her experiences of working in the climate-impacted coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Kalapara upazila is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in the southernmost part of Bangladesh. The harsh reality of life for the people in this region is their constant battle against the natural adversities caused by climate change.

This area, one of the most climate-vulnerable zones in Bangladesh, has been repeatedly struck by various natural disasters, from Cyclone Sidr to the recent Remal.

"When world leaders listen to our suffering, it creates an impact. They produce carbon, and we suffer. If they want, they can alleviate our suffering. I delivered a speech there and told them that I am not alone in this suffering — it's the entire country of Bangladesh that suffers."

Dulali Begum

Dulali Begum is one of the many residents of Kalapara who are continuously fighting against these devastating natural events.

"I felt really good because I delivered a speech and listened to others speak. I had seen it on TV before, but this trip gave me the opportunity to directly engage with the global community," Dulali said.

In her community, Dulali works to prevent early marriage and helps pregnant women get access to medical care. While she sometimes faces obstacles in preventing child marriage, she seeks support by contacting the UNO and other officials.

"Then I explain to the families why early marriage is harmful and how it endangers the girl," she said. "However, things have improved now compared to before."

She also works with community volunteers during cyclone seasons. They raise awareness about how people should prepare in advance to evacuate to storm shelters, taking their valuables and livestock with them. "There are many others like me who work for the community," she said.

She works with the Kalapara Environment and Public Safety Committee, supported by ActionAid Bangladesh, to protect landless people, promote environmental protection, and advocate for climate justice. She has campaigned for families affected by land loss due to the Payra Sea Port and Ashuganj 1320 MW Coal Power projects and raised concerns about local environmental damage.

In addition to her activism, Dulali engages in agriculture and fishing, as she prefers not to buy from the market.

"I encourage others to do the same and grow whatever they can. I cultivate Lau Shakh, Kumar Shakh, Chal Kumra Shakh — anything you can name, I grow it right next to my house," she said. "I also have cows and goats."

A mother of two, Dulali is grateful for the support of her family in her activism.

"I have always loved helping people, and I'm thankful to my husband for supporting my activism," Dulali said. "I've never had to step back from anything I'm passionate about, and my children understand me too."

Kabir Talukdar, her husband, shared that he lost one of his brothers during Cyclone Sidr, who died from a heart attack due to the anxiety caused by the cyclone's destruction. Since then, he has admired his wife's work even more.

Dulali now plans to share the knowledge and experiences she gained in Baku with her community. She believes this will inspire others to work more for the betterment of the community.

"When world leaders listen to our suffering, it creates an impact. They produce carbon, and we suffer. If they want, they can alleviate our suffering. I delivered a speech there and told them that I am not alone in this suffering — it's the entire country of Bangladesh that suffers. They must compensate us. I told them this," she said.