Addressing the Housing Needs of Low-Income Internal Migrants in Chattogram City: The Role of City Governance

Abstract

Based on fieldwork conducted in the second largest city of Bangladesh, Chattogram, this paper raises concerns regarding the current situation of the low-income migrant population. It also examines how the existing urbanization and city development policies are dealing with migrants and the complexities that they face. Finally, this paper suggests innovative ways to address those challenges. The photo-voice method was implemented with different group of migrants (N=10) in Chattogram City to elicit their concerns about their living conditions and understand how the wellbeing of the migrants is affected. The results show that the low-income migrants in Chattogram City are living in extremely poor housing and suffer from a scarcity of basic services (i.e., water and sanitation) as well as a fear of fire hazards and eviction. These factors have detrimental effects on the wellbeing of the migrants. No doubt, there are enormous public health threats emanating from this poor living environment for both the migrants as well as other city dwellers. This paper will provide policy directions for the Chattogram City Corporation, City Development Authority (CDA) and relevant departments regarding taking development measures regarding the low-income migrants in Chattogram City and suggests how the housing problems of the low-income migrant group might be mitigated.