Climate Induce Migration: The Struggle of Climate Migrants in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The presentation critically examines the intersection of climate-induced migration, urban housing, and health in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The effect of environmental stressors including flooding, salinity intrusion, and riverbank erosion driving migration to Dhaka is explored. Push–pull migration theory, predictive modelling and retrospective accounts from multilateral organisations are evaluated to assess these drivers and how they are framed, often as adaptation failure or resilience strategy. Next, how national climate plans from 2005 to 2023 have addressed the housing needs of climate migrants in Dhaka over time is reviewed. A temporal-comparative analysis traces shifts in recognition of migration, evolution of housing policy from infrastructure provision to rights-based approaches, and emerging climate finance mechanisms. Lastly, institutional responses to health risks in Dhaka’s informal settlements, comparing topdown programmes by intergovernmental agencies with bottom-up NGO-led initiatives, with attention to sanitation, gender equity, and community participation were evaluated. Thematic coding methodologies interrogated how policies and interventions frame migration, recognise vulnerable groups, and negotiate informality. The findings highlight persistent gaps between institutional narratives and lived realities, underscoring the need for integrated, rights-based urban adaptation strategies that address both housing and health for climate migrants.