Climate Induced Migration and Advisory of ICJ and Scope for Bangladesh
- M. Zakir Hossain Khan
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
In Bangladesh, climate change acts as a "threat multiplier" creating a growing humanitarian crisis characterized by mass internal displacement.
Scale of Displacement
Current and Future Risks: Approximately one-third of Bangladesh's population is at risk of displacement by 2030.
Long-term Projections: By 2050, it is estimated that one in every seven people in the country will be displaced by climate change.
Regional Impact: Projections suggest Bangladesh could have up to 19.9 million internal climate migrants by 2050, accounting for nearly half of the projected migrants in the entire South Asian region.
Primary Drivers of Migration
Migration is driven by both sudden-onset disasters and slow-onset environmental changes:
Floods and Rainfall: Excessive rain and flooding are the leading causes, reported by roughly 34.6% of displaced households.
Riverbank Erosion: This accounts for approximately 26.6% of displacement cases.
Cyclones and Storms: Severe storms and cyclones drive about 20.3% of migration.
Slow-Onset Events: Agricultural disruption from sea-level rise, high salinity (9%), and droughts (7.9%) increasingly force families to move as their local livelihoods become unsustainable.
Status of Migrants in Urban Centers (Focus on Women)
A significant portion of these migrants relocate to Dhaka-based slums, where they face distinct socio-economic challenges:
Demographic Profile: The average age of climate-induced migrant (CIM) women is 33 years. Many face an "education gap," with 44.17% being illiterate.
Economic Transition: Migration forces a shift from domestic roles to informal labor. Before displacement, 53% of these women were housewives; after moving to Dhaka, 51% became domestic workers, and 11.7% entered the garment (RMG) sector.
Income vs. Standard of Living: While 88% of CIM women report an increase in total income after moving, they often experience a lack of access to healthcare, education for children, and safe housing.
Vulnerability and Safety: Over 21% of CIM women report feeling unsafe in their new neighborhoods. Approximately 6.2% have faced Gender-Based Violence (GBV) since their displacement, yet 90% are unaware of organizations that support workers' rights.
Compounding Crises
The status of these migrants was further jeopardized by the COVID-19 pandemic:
Job Loss: Roughly 41% of CIM women lost their jobs during the pandemic.
Economic Debt: To manage household expenses during lockdowns, 45% of these families were compelled to take out loans.
National and Global Response
Using ICJ opinion strengthening legal claims, and Bangladesh has recognized migration as a potential adaptation strategy in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), formalizing displacement rights across the world. Proposed ways forward include creating an E-database of CIM people, developing "migrant-friendly" secondary towns to reduce pressure on Dhaka, and ensuring dedicated global funding for "loss and damage" under international mechanisms like the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) and advocating for increased adaptation finding.
*M. Zakir Hossain Khan, Proponent of Transformative Natural Rights Led Governance Framework; Co-Founder and Managing Director, Change Initiative, a global think tank; and Editor in Chief, Nature Insights. Email: zhkhan@changei.earth
Author: M. Zakir Hossain Khan
Originally published in: Change Initiative
This article is republished for archival and informational purposes. All rights remain with the original publisher.
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