How the government should address internal migration

Internal migration in Bangladesh has emerged as a pressing challenge. But it is significantly overlooked despite its far-reaching consequences. 

Rural-to-urban migration has surged, particularly over the past 15 years, driven by slow-onset climate change. In 2022, over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced by climate change. 

The World Bank projects that by 2050, the country could see up to 13.3 million internal climate migrants, making up a third of all climate migrants in South Asia.

A recent survey by People's Courage International and the Association for Community Development (ACD) revealed that 71% of internal migrants relocate due to livelihood challenges or lack of job opportunities, 69% are driven by low wages, and 15% migrate to repay loans.

"Disasters are merely surface-level manifestations of climate change. Without continuous efforts by these committees [Union Disaster Management Committees] to mitigate climate impacts and enhance disaster preparedness, people will continue to suffer and have no option but to migrate."

Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam, professor of Government and Politics at JU

Climate change affects 55% of migrants from source districts, with 13% impacted at their destination. Rising temperatures, floods and heavy rainfall are pushing inter-district migration, with over 30% of source-area migrants relying on savings to cope. 

At their destinations, 80% face wage loss, with 41% reporting wage cuts and 20% losing jobs entirely.

This growing crisis reflects a broader failure by the past government and relevant authorities in addressing key issues related to policy, legislation and infrastructure. Despite the significant threats posed by internal migration, insufficient attention has been paid to these critical areas. 

So, urgent action is needed to prioritise and strengthen these sectors before the situation spirals out of control. And that demands a two-pronged approach: addressing the challenges in both source and destination areas.

Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam, professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University specialising in politics of migration, environmental governance and disaster management, highlights that while climate change remains the primary driver behind economic hardships and forced migration, local governments lack the sincerity to address the issue from its core.

According to him, although there are Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs), they are largely ineffective because their efforts are limited to providing relief and rehabilitation after disasters strike.

"This is not enough," Dr Islam asserts. "Disasters are merely surface-level manifestations of climate change. Without continuous efforts by these committees to mitigate climate impacts and enhance disaster preparedness, people will continue to suffer and have no option but to migrate."

He further points out that the Disaster Management Act of 2012 mandates the relocation of affected individuals to safer regions to sustain their livelihoods. 

"However, internal migration is often viewed in limited terms, overlooking its broader socioeconomic impacts. This not only displaces people but also traps them in a cycle of poverty, driven by factors such as unemployment, low wages, and an inability to repay loans from microfinance institutions," he said. 

To address these issues for a permanent solution, Dr Islam emphasises the need for better coordination among local governments, disaster management laws, and environmental policies. A comprehensive and collaborative approach is essential to reduce the overwhelming burden on vulnerable communities and prevent forced migration due to climate change.

Rural local governments also lack accountability and transparency which leads to disadvantaged households establishing their adaptation strategies and frequently relocating to cities, even though there are many social safety packages introduced by the previous governments for disadvantaged populations. 

"But local governments hardly ever pay heed to make fair candidate lists to make sure those reliefs reach the people who need it. Instead, they send them to their preferred people, sometimes to those localities who voted for them. So, it is high time to bring about a holistic change in local governments to tackle these problems," Dr Islam said.  

There is another factor at play. According to a 2020 publication by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), migrants face challenges in accessing them, primarily due to a lack of portability. This is because schemes are designed based on geographical area, making migrants "ineligible" when they move to a different location for work. So, a change in such policies is also necessary. 

Dr Islam also advocates for a unified microfinance body at rural, grassroots levels under the Microcredit Regulatory Authority Act, 2006, to improve loan utilisation and prevent financial distress-driven migration. Tailored loan products, financial literacy programmes, and integration with social protection schemes could bolster local livelihoods, reducing economic challenges that lead to migration.

That said, even with significant efforts to address the root causes of internal migration, it is unlikely to disappear entirely. Moreover, internal migration is not solely a cause for concern; there are positive aspects as well. 

For instance, a 2013 UNDP report viewed internal migration in a positive light, seeing it as essential to economic transformation, and crucially, to the on-going reduction of poverty. 

However, this can only be achieved if internal migration is managed properly with appropriate policies in place. Therefore, in addition to focusing on source areas, it is crucial to give urgent attention to destination areas, such as large cities.

In this regard, urban local governments have a significant role to play, but they currently overlook this responsibility, claimed Dr Selim Reza, coordinator of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) at North South University.

He pointed out that even though people migrating from rural areas to big cities make out the largest chunk of people joining informal workforces like day labourers, housemaids, rickshaw pullers etc, there aren't enough measures for them in big cities to live dignified lives, mostly because their plights are often neglected, with them seen merely as "troublemakers". 

"Urban local government authorities often look down on migrants from rural areas, viewing them as uneducated and a burden who cause overcrowding in cities and drain infrastructure, housing, and public services. As a result, internal migrants face challenges at every turn, even in accessing the most necessities," explained Dr Reza, also an associate professor of Political Science and Sociology. 

Migrant workers, particularly in Dhaka, are often underpaid and overworked, facing a significant disparity between the minimum wage and the living wage. For instance, young women in the garment industry endure numerous challenges related to housing, transportation, personal safety, and low wages. 

Forced to live near their workplaces in slum-like conditions, they often walk to factories as most garment factories are located in crowded market areas of district and subdistrict towns, where public transport is either non-existent, costly, or unsafe. This issue extends beyond Dhaka and Chattogram, affecting surrounding satellite cities and districts as well.

"There is also a lack of opportunities for rural-to-urban migrants to improve their skills through government initiatives, which hinder their chance of joining any better profession for a better living through skill transformation. It's high time there are such initiatives in place," said Dr Reza.

He added that the migrants in big cities are also deprived of being able to access social services at an affordable price. For Dr Reza, it's discrimination if a corporate worker and a day labourer have to access services or buy daily necessities, at the same price. There has to be some kind of social security services dedicated to the migrants.

"To ensure a better quality of life for internal migrant workers and make the most of their potential, we must provide special provisions — adequate food, goods, housing, and services — at affordable prices, supported by proper infrastructure," Dr Reza concluded.