Climate change -related migration in Bangladesh

A 2012 policy brief based on research in Bangladesh finds that internal migration serves as an effective adaptation strategy for rural populations facing climate-induced drought, flooding, and riverbank erosion. While villagers proactively use migration to diversify livelihoods, they often end up in hazardous urban slums with minimal support. The brief recommends that the government recognize internal migration as a valid adaptation mechanism and provide better infrastructure, housing, and social services in destination areas.

• Rural residents in Bangladesh perceive significant climate changes, including increased extreme summer temperatures and water stress. In Chapai Nawabganj, drought has worsened over the last decade, with water tables dropping from 100-120 feet to 160 feet. In Satkhira, water scarcity and the impossibility of farming and aquaculture are attributed to salinisation caused by irregular rainfall, brackish water aquaculture, and storm surge inundation from Cyclone Aila.
• Riverbank erosion and flooding are critical issues in Munshiganj and the riverine islands of Chapai Nawabganj. In Munshiganj, rivers have been consuming land since the 1970s, with the river width at Bhagyakul expanding by over two miles in 20 years. In the Chorpka union of Chapai Nawabganj, an island on the Padma river that was settled in the early 1980s has seen its area shrink from 48,000 bigha to 6,000 bigha due to erosion.
• Migration is used as a proactive and effective adaptation strategy to diversify livelihoods and offset climate shocks. Patterns vary by region: erosion often causes entire communities to move, cyclone-hit areas see primarily male migration, and the drought belt experiences individual, family, or community migration. Historical data from north-western Bangladesh indicated 19% of households migrated during lean farming seasons, and a quarter of poor households used migration as a major livelihood strategy.
• Migration decisions are driven by a combination of environmental beliefs, behavioural factors (such as cost-benefit assessments), personal norms, and social norms. While villagers often believe disaster occurrence is "in God’s hands," they still take remedial and preparatory actions. Decisions are typically made by the migrant or head of household after consulting social networks, rather than through government agencies.
• Migrants often face precarious conditions in their destinations, frequently residing in slums and informal settlements where they are exposed to new hazards like urban floods. They typically receive little to no support for healthcare, housing, or education for their children upon arrival.
• The document recommends that the government shift its policy perspective to view internal migration as a time-tested coping mechanism rather than a failure to adapt. Recommendations include providing safe infrastructure, housing, and education in destination areas, extending disaster early warning systems to longer time scales, and providing skills training for formal sector jobs.

APA

Martin, M., Kniveton, D., & Siddiqui, T. (2012). Climate change -related migration in Bangladesh. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-1-max-24102013.pdf

Chicago

Martin, Maxmillan, Dominic Kniveton, and Tasneem Siddiqui. Climate change -related migration in Bangladesh. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-1-max-24102013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martin |first1=Maxmillan |last2=Kniveton |first2=Dominic |last3=Siddiqui |first3=Tasneem |title=Climate change -related migration in Bangladesh |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=November 2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-1-max-24102013.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martin2012climate, author = {Martin, Maxmillan and Kniveton, Dominic and Siddiqui, Tasneem}, title = {{Climate change -related migration in Bangladesh}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, month = nov, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-1-max-24102013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }