Environmental Migration from Coastal Area to Urban Centers: A Case Study of Mohammadpur Slums, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Migration due to climate change induced disasters has become one of the major challenges for Bangladesh. But the data related to environmental migrants are insufficient specially the aftermath of migration to a new area. This study was designed to assess the people’s perceptions on coastal environmental hazards and the status of migrants after migration. The study was conducted on 100 households living in four slums of Mohammadpur area in Dhaka city with the help of questionnaire survey. 78% of the total respondents believe that coastal zone is more vulnerable than 10 years ago. 31.11% respondents thought frequent cyclone and 28.51% thought climate change as the major factors making the coastal zone more vulnerable over last 10 years. Excessive house rent (14.38%), inadequate supply of gas and electricity (14.22%) and water scarcity (13.08%) are the main problems of the slum people to where they have migrated. 33.64% respondents thought that governmental and non-governmental bodies should take initiatives to mitigate their problems.100% of the respondents chose Dhaka for the employment facility. Most of the respondents were from western coastal zone of Bangladesh. 61% of the respondents migrated during 2001-2010 showing a close relationship between increasing disaster and increase in the number of environmental migrants.