Bangladesh struggles to deal with climate-driven internal migration

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, is struggling to develop climate adaptation capacity to address the rush of climate-driven internal migration, especially along the coastal belt, as the globe marks World Nature Conservation Day this Thursday.

Ashit Sarkar, 58, a resident of the Burigoalini Union of Shyamnagar, in the southwest Satkhira district, said he had to move his residence several times including after the severe cyclonic storm Aila in 2009.

“This year, monsoon floods last month washed away my home, vegetable garden, and shrimp enclosure. I was also forced to shift my home with similar suffering some nine to 10 villages over in the town of Shyamnagar,” he told Anadolu Agency.

“Many of my neighbors have migrated to other districts in search of jobs. But I couldn’t join the race due to my age. However, changing scenarios like some growing soft-shell crab farms gave a few employment opportunities in our town with Taka 8,000-10,000 ($85-$105) a month,” he added.

Overall, the number of Bangladeshis displaced by the impact of climate change could reach 13.3 million by 2050, making it the country’s number-one driver of internal migration, according to the World Bank.

This week at an event in the capital Dhaka, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen warned that the international community cannot afford to remain oblivious to the issue of climate migrants.

“The government is looking to foster decent living conditions for internally displaced people while it continues to maintain the trajectory of socioeconomic development,” Momen said, adding: “There is also an urgent need for countries to integrate climate migration into national development plans and national policies.”

- Build climate-friendly town, say experts

Climate scientist Saleemul Huq has been working closely with the government to address people’s vulnerability. He advocated adapting to the changing climate by preparing a “climate-resilient town” to house climate refugees.

Huq, also director of the Dhaka-based International Centre for Climate Change and Development, told Anadolu Agency that the climate-vulnerable town of Mongla, situated about 50 kilometers (32 miles) inland from the Bay of Bengal, could serve as an example of how to absorb new climate refugees.

Many nearby coastal people migrate or move to the riverside coastal town for employment as it is the country’s second-largest seaport.

The mayor of Mongla wanted to prepare the town for climate resilience, Huq added, saying that officials of similar municipalities were holding talks with his research organization to replicate the Mongla model in other coastal towns.

“The aim of such a resilient town is to accept climate-induced refugees and to stop the rush for big cities like Dhaka or Chattogram to find work as day laborers,” Huq explained. “Under the concept, we design flood-resilient houses and ensure means of livelihood and an environment of friendly coexistence with the host community.”

“Climate change is a reality and it has started and will continue,” he added. “We’ve recently experienced unprecedented flooding in the northeastern Sylhet regions and some 18 other districts. So we have to take preparations to face it (climate change).”

Along the same line, Shahriar Hossain, an environment expert, said internal migration usually happens where there is available opportunity of work, and that some people may have moved to Mongla for its growing economic activities.

Mongla is situated at an interim point so there are some economic activities which attract people along the coastal belt who lost everything to the climate, he added.

“Bangladesh will have to move for climate adaptation, as the country is among the top climate-vulnerable countries,” he added.

Hossain, also secretary general of the Environment and Social Development Organization, argued for making Mongla a resilient town as it is climate vulnerable due to its location near the Bay of Bengal.

- Economic opportunities spur migration

Kamalesh Majumder, Mongla’s chief government official, said the coastal town of Mongla is home to some 220,000 people. Some 15,000-20,000 people migrated to Mongla in the last five years, attracted by growing economic activities here, including an export processing zone and government housing facilities.

“People in many coastal regions are becoming jobless or changing their profession due to climate effects. So many traditional fishermen left their profession, as fish are seen to decline in natural sources like coastal rivers and canals, including because of rising salinity. And the situation is blamed for internal migration,” he added.

Some 7,000 people are now working at the export processing zone in Mongla for just two companies. Some companies from India, China, and Vietnam are expected to join the zone with more employment opportunities, Majumder added.