Migration In Bangladesh Research Articles

Bright City Lights and Slums of Dhaka city: Determinants of rural-urban migration in Bangladesh

This paper explores the factors contributing to the migration process in Bangladesh. 197 randomly selected migrants and their families were interviewed at both destination and source locations using closed and open-ended questionnaires. The resulting data provided descriptive and analytical statistics. Data analysis reveals that the flow of migration to the major cities in Bangladesh is the result of rural - urban dichotomies in income, employment opportunity and absorptive capacity. A significantly higher percentage of migrants live in slums as compared to other places (P<0.003). Regression analysis shows that migration is influenced by both “push” and “pull” factors, such as the search for work, landlessness, extreme poverty, loss of income,, easy access to informal sectors in cities, and joining families or relatives. A factor analysis showed similar determinants. Reducing disparities between rural and urban areas should receive urgent attention to stabilise the migration process in Bangladesh

Continental Physiography, Climate, and the Global Distribution of Human Population

Continental Physiography, Climate, and the Global Distribution of Human Population

Identities in motion: Social exchange networks and rural- urban migration in Bangladesh

Expanding on work that demonstrates the importance of rural resources (land, manpower) on rural-urban migrant success in Bangladesh, the article incorporates the role of an expanding network of village-based social connections in perpetuating the flow of migration and ensuring migrant success. As kin groups, lineages, and entire villages shift from their home settings to major cities, identities that had little meaning in the local context are mobilised to create trust between past and future migrants. Identity- based migration opportunities function as a new source of capital in a society with severe constraints on formal credit and insurance markets, allowing small landholders to pre serve their livelihood in exchange for allegiance to an increasingly influential group of urban gatekeepers. This fluid notion of identity often bends to more traditional social and economic concerns, however, generating a network whose membership is determined as much by pre-existing social relationships, spatial proximity and resource holdings, as by a potential migrant's skills, honesty or effort. Thesefindings raise critical concerns over the inherent risks and social costs built into the rural-urban migration process.

Hazards and 'forced' migration in Bangladesh

This paper deals with two basic assumptions about migration patterns in Bangladesh. First, it is commonly assumed that poverty and landlessness in rural Bangladesh lead to migration to and settlement in disaster-prone areas along the main rivers or in low-lying areas in the Bay of Bengal. Second, it is also commonly assumed that when people living in these areas experience loss of land, property and income opportunities due to natural disasters, they are forced to seek their livelihood and housing in urban areas. These two assumptions are discussed on the basis of data from a char in Jamuna river and a slum settlement in Dhaka.

Rural-urban dichotomy and convergence: emerging realities in Bangladesh

This paper describes the main causes and consequences of rural-urban migration in Bangladesh and explores their implications for poverty alleviation and spatial distribution policies. Amongst the main factors affecting people’s mobility are the impact of structural adjustment and privatization on the country’s economy and the related changes in the structure of employment. The manufacturing and service sectors have rapidly expanded in rural areas, and in urban areas there is substantial relocation within the tertiary sector and significant change in the gender composition of the manufacturing sector. Migration has become more complex, diversified and multi-dimensional in nature. Gaps between rural and urban areas with respect to service provision are also narrowing, as both rural and urban poor households face insufficient access to them. While recognizing the importance of migration and other processes in rural-urban interactions, policy makers and planners must address the issues of urban management, resource transfer from rich to poor, diversification of employment opportunities for the poor, and strong measures for the provision of social services for the poor in both rural and urban areas.

Rural-urban dichotomy and convergence: emerging realities in Bangladesh

This paper describes the main causes and consequences of rural-urban migration in Bangladesh and explores their implications for poverty alleviation and spatial distribution policies. Amongst the main factors affecting people’s mobility are the impact of structural adjustment and privatization on the country’s economy and the related changes in the structure of employment. The manufacturing and service sectors have rapidly expanded in rural areas, and in urban areas there is substantial relocation within the tertiary sector and significant change in the gender composition of the manufacturing sector. Migration has become more complex, diversified and multi-dimensional in nature. Gaps between rural and urban areas with respect to service provision are also narrowing, as both rural and urban poor households face insufficient access to them. While recognizing the importance of migration and other processes in rural-urban interactions, policy makers and planners must address the issues of urban management, resource transfer from rich to poor, diversification of employment opportunities for the poor, and strong measures for the provision of social services for the poor in both rural and urban areas.

The Impact of the Asian Crisis on Migrant Workers: Bangladesh Perspectives

This paper addresses the impact of the recent Asian financial crisis on migration in Bangladesh. The crisis has stemmed the outflow of migrant workers to the affected countries but also diversified the flows as well as sparked rising return migration. Remittances and foreign exchange reserves are likely to be adversely affected. Irregular migration towards more diversified but less remunerative pockets has increased. What is more disconcerting is the increasing trend in the ranks of the already sizable unemployed. The government should gear up retraining, rehabilitation and reintegration measures. Insurance schemes and other safety nets may be introduced to meet unforeseen crisis. Migration is a humanitarian issue. It has to be addressed through a sensible legal regime where interests of both the sending and receiving countries could be accommodated.

Migration of Female Construction Labourers to Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Female labour migration in Bangladesh involves movement from backward rural areas to urban conglomerations like Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Interviews with female construction workers reveal that the major goal of these female migrants, whose mobility and employment have traditionally been restricted, is to take responsibility in the struggle for livelihood, which has become essential due to increased landlessness, aggravation of rural poverty, break-up of joint family systems, and weakening of patriarchy. Success of many migrations is linked with participation in construction work in the city. Employment in such activities is largely by women from male-headed households, indicating male support in the work, followed by females heading their own households. The adverse impact of this migration is seen in the growth of slums, squatting, footpath dwellings and unhygienic living conditions. The positive impact is on employment status and income, while the rural environment is improved through financial return from the workers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dynamics of Internal Migration in Bangladesh

A multiple regression analysis of internal migration in Bangladesh was conducted using data from 1974 and 1981 censuses to test the hypothesis that migration is related to population density and other variables associated with land pressure. The data from 1974 contained information on birthplace and length of time at current residence. The 1981 census lacked these data so the UN census survival ratio method was used to estimate time. The hypotheses were that greater exploitation of tenant farmers would engender greater out-migration and that higher population growth would lead to more migration. Employment activity rate of people aged 10 and over was used as a proxy for land pressure. In 1981 Bangladesh had 21 districts ranging in population from 0.2 million for the Eastern district of Bandarban to >10 million for Dhaka. The country was divided into 4 regions: the central and northern regions gained population and the southern end eastern regions lost population. Population flows were toward rural areas with less land pressure and more employment opportunities the north central and southeast regions. People moved into the urban areas in the Districts of Dhaka Chittagong Khulna and Rajshahi. They also moved to the government redistribution areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Bandarban. The regression analysis showed that 81.5% of the net migration was explained by activity rate and 5.9% by urbanization. Unexpectedly districts with high population density tended to gain more population. Other variables such as household size proportion of never-married persons and literacy rate were not significant. It was concluded that exploitative agrarian land management was the primary motivation for migration.

Some Notes on Population Migration in Bangladesh

Some Notes on Population Migration in Bangladesh

Rural-urban migration: policy simulations in a dual economy model of Bangladesh.

The process of rural-urban migration in Bangladesh is analyzed using a dual economy model. The focus is on the period 1976-1985. The main purpose of the paper is to examine alternative policies designed to reduce the level of such migration without adversely affecting the country's economy.