Mapping the Typology of Human Migration: Insights from Bangladesh

• In Event: Global and Transnational Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 5. Decision to Migrate

Abstract

Migration in Bangladesh reflects the complex realities of the country’s economy, society, environment, and politics. People from different parts of the country often move due to persistent poverty, environmental stressors, or perceived opportunities in destination regions. To date, there has been no systematic research analyzing these migration patterns or identifying similarities and differences across region-specific movements. This study aims to fill that knowledge gap. Drawing upon an extensive review of peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and national and local newspapers, the study suggests that migration in Bangladesh is primarily economic, largely characterized by rural-to-urban flows driven by disparities between the agricultural and industrial/service sectors. However, as a riverine country, Bangladesh frequently experiences riverbank erosion. This, often coupled with flooding or drought, causes seasonal food insecurity and results in substantial outmigration, particularly from the country’s northern and northwestern regions. Our findings further suggest that religion, culture, perceived security and safety, along with ancestral ties, can motivate migration to neighboring India, contributing to significant geopolitical tensions. Bangladesh is also currently a major host country for nearly 1.5 million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in their home country of Myanmar. Across all these categories, migration appears to function more as a survival and adaptation strategy in response to social, environmental, and economic stresses rather than as a pathway to upward mobility. It is important to note that this study does not include formal labor migration to Middle Eastern countries or family-based migration to Western nations. Despite its specific focus on Bangladesh, the findings of this study contribute to a broader understanding of migration dynamics in other parts of the world facing similar social, economic, environmental, and political challenges. 

Authors

• Saleh Ahmed, Michigan State University

• Afra Rahman, Michigan State University

• Elizabeth Kiester, Hood College