Human migration driven by climate change is a prevalent phenomenon in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a densely populated country with more than 165 million people, where one-third of the population lives in the coastal zone. The people of Bengal Delta are vulnerable to several environmental disasters and climate change factors. In response to this vulnerability, this region’s population considers migration as one of the coping mechanisms. A prominent political scientist of Dhaka University, Tasneem Siddiqui said that people always cope with flooding and learn how to cope with death-like situations.
Sudden and slow-onset climatic hazards, directly and indirectly, contribute to initiate migration and displace people across Bangladesh. In 2016, around 24 million people were displaced due to extreme climatic events. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), nearly 700,000 Bangladeshis were displaced on average each year by natural disasters over the last decade and the World Bank report suggests that the number could reach 13.3 million by 2050.
Situation in 2020
An estimated report suggests that in Bangladesh 1 in every 7 individuals will be displaced due to climate change by 2050. Last year, Bangladesh tackled the threat from cyclone Amphan and experienced one of the most devastating floods and riverbank erosion. A record number of new displacements were reported with more than 4.4 million people in 2020. Monsoon displaced around 1.9 million people while Cyclone Amphan triggered around 2.5 million new displacements. About 345,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were reported by IDMC.
Migration to Dhaka
Around 28% of the population resides on the coast, the most vulnerable area, and are susceptible to displacement and migration. One of the leading climate scientists of Bangladesh and the director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Dr Saleemul Huq, opined that people living in the coastal area might fail to survive and thrive mainly due to the livelihood loss. As people lose their jobs, they migrate to urban areas, particularly in Dhaka for better economic opportunity. Dr Huq added , “Dhaka is filled with people who fled their village because it was swallowed by the sea or the rivers”.Every day around 2000 people and about 400,000 per year low-income migrants move to Dhaka, one of the fastest-growing megacities. Most of them ended up in the urban slums.
Migration cannot be stopped. People migrate to grab better opportunities as well as livelihood. Several frameworks are still inappropriate. Proper monitoring and registration of climate migrants should be introduced. Policy frameworks and strategies should be revised and migrant-centric to administrate IDPs. The government with the help of local authorities should invest in urban slums to ensure protection & rights with better housing and basic facilities.
Syed Sajidur Rahman has completed B.Sc in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from East West University, Bangladesh. He is holding a Post Graduate Diploma in Population, Public Health, and Disaster Management. Currently pursuing his master’s degree in Population, Reproductive Health, Gender and Development at East West University, Bangladesh. He has served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) as well as Research Assistant (RA) at East West University. Also served as a Facilitator at Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC). He has been awarded the Medha Lalon Scholarship (Dean’s List) for his academic excellence. His academic interests are in Migration, Demography, Climate change, and Public health issues. He is fond of Research, Sports, Photography, and Travel. LinkedIn: Syed Sajidur Rahman Jaj Twitter: @Jaj1601