Dhaka, June 28 -- Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain has stressed that empowering women in Bangladesh's marginalised areas with knowledge, skills and confidence is essential to withstanding the growing impacts of climate change.

There is no alternative to building women's capacity to adapt to climate-related challenges, he said while speaking at a workshop at Aloki Convention Centre on Tejgaon Link Road in Dhaka on Sunday.

The workshop was jointly organised by UN Women and the UN Environment Programme.

"Climate change will bring physical, mental, financial and environmental challenges. There is no alternative to knowledge and skills if people are to survive and adapt to those changes," Abu Zafar said.

"If we can equip ...