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Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Socioeconomic Livelihood Vulnerabilities: Migration Decision Among the Char Land People in Bangladesh

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  • M. Rezaul Islam

    (University of Dhaka)

Abstract

The main research objective was to explore the causes and nature of the char peoples’ migration decisions due to their livelihood vulnerabilities related to climate change and natural disasters in Bangladesh. Based on a mixed method approach, this study employed a multimethod data collection approach including face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, in-depth case studies, community mapping, and participant observations. The study was conducted on 28 chars in the three Northern Districts that is, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Pabna. Results showed that the char people encountered multiple causes assorted with climate change and natural disasters, as well as socio-economic vulnerabilities that reinforced their decision to migrate from one char to another char. The study found that floods, river bank erosion, lack of employment, and fiscal deficits were prominent factors for their migration. These findings provide an important guideline for the governmental and non-governmental organizations working in disaster prevention, policy makers, and development practitioners.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Rezaul Islam, 2018. "Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Socioeconomic Livelihood Vulnerabilities: Migration Decision Among the Char Land People in Bangladesh," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 575-593, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:136:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-017-1563-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-017-1563-y
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sarker, Md Nazirul Islam & Wu, Min & Alam, GM Monirul & Shouse, Roger C, 2020. "Livelihood resilience of riverine island dwellers in the face of natural disasters: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Tahmina Chumky & Mrittika Basu & Kenichiro Onitsuka & Md Lamiur Raihan & Satoshi Hoshino, 2023. "How Do Left-Behind Families Adapt to the Salinity-Induced Male Out-Migration Context? A Case Study of Shyamnagar Sub-District in Coastal Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Sarker, Md Nazirul Islam & Wu, Min & Alam, G.M. Monirul & Shouse, Roger C., 2020. "Life in riverine islands in Bangladesh: Local adaptation strategies of climate vulnerable riverine island dwellers for livelihood resilience," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Md Nazirul Islam Sarker & Jing Wen & Bo Yang & Shaheen Yusufzada & Nazmul Huda & Farzana Mahbub, 2021. "Assessment of environmental governance in disaster vulnerability context of rural Bangladesh," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 1155-1171, June.
    6. Changxiang Wang & Zhongfa Zhou & Quan Chen & Qing Feng & Changli Zhu, 2022. "Study on the Livelihood Vulnerability of the Poor Relocated Households in Karst Area: A Case Study of Liupanshui Area," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, September.
    7. Md. Nazirul Islam Sarker & Yang Peng & Most. Nilufa Khatun & G. M. Monirul Alam & Roger C. Shouse & Md. Ruhul Amin, 2022. "Climate finance governance in hazard prone riverine islands in Bangladesh: pathway for promoting climate resilience," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(2), pages 1115-1132, January.
    8. H.M. Tuihedur Rahman & Gordon M. Hickey, 2020. "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-26, July.
    9. Trung Xuan Hoang & Huong Thu Nguyen & Tuyen Quang Tran, 2024. "Heterogeneous effects of natural disasters on migration and household well-being in rural Vietnam: a panel data analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26731-26751, October.
    10. M. Rezaul Islam, 2021. "Water, sanitation and hygiene practices among disaster-affected char land people: Bangladesh experience," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1167-1190, June.
    11. Thinh An Nguyen & Bich Thi Nguyen & Hanh Ta & Nhung Thi Phuong Nguyen & Huong Thi Hoang & Quan Phung Nguyen & Luc Hens, 2021. "Livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the mountains of Northern Vietnam: comparing the Hmong and the Dzao ethnic minority populations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13469-13489, September.
    12. Abdullah Mamun & Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam & G. M. Monirul Alam & Md Nazirul Islam Sarker & Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie & Humnath Bhandari & Javed Mallick, 2023. "Livelihood vulnerability of char land communities to climate change and natural hazards in Bangladesh: an application of livelihood vulnerability index," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(2), pages 1411-1437, January.
    13. Sarker, Md Nazirul Islam & Wu, Min & Alam, GM Monirul & Shouse, Roger C, 2020. "Livelihood diversification in rural Bangladesh: Patterns and determinants in disaster prone riverine islands," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    14. Md Masum Billah & Abahan Majumdar & Syed Mohammad Aminur Rahman & Mohammad Shah Alam & Md Jamal Hossain & Joynulalom Talukder & Md Mohidul Islam & Tahmida Khanam, 2023. "Riverbank Erosion and Rural Food Security in Bangladesh," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Md Nazirul Islam Sarker & Min Wu & G M Monirul Alam & Roger C. Shouse, 2019. "Livelihood Vulnerability of Riverine-Island Dwellers in the Face of Natural Disasters in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, March.

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