Women risk lives for coal as fuel crisis bites in Bangladesh: Video
Rising global fuel prices push vulnerable communities into dangerous work to survive.
Women in Dinajpur are wading through polluted water near the Barapukuria Coal Mine to collect coal dust, driven by economic hardship worsened by rising global fuel prices. Working in shifts, they spend hours in hazardous conditions, facing storms, contaminated water, and dangerous animals while earning small amounts that often fail to cover basic living costs. Many report long-term health problems, including skin and respiratory issues, yet continue due to a lack of alternative income. The mine, operated by a subsidiary of the state-owned Petrobangla, is the country’s only active underground coal facility. The situation is compounded by global energy supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, particularly affecting routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
