Post-cyclonic migration in coastal Bangladesh

: An unexplored adaptation strategy

Abstract

Cyclones and storm surges are now very frequent in coastal Bangladesh. As a result, many people lose their lives, households sustain substantial economic losses, and people move to other places to earn their living. This research aims to investigate internal migration in coastal Bangladesh to discover how people in that area respond to cyclonic hazards and the aftermath.
Descriptive and inferential statistics, multivariable multinomial logistic regression, and an L1regularised logistic regression, also known as Lasso regression, were used to achieve the goals of the study. The research questions used are: a) What are the post-cyclonic migration patterns of the Southern coastal area of Bangladesh? b) Does the distribution and type of aid affect internal migration following a cyclone? c) What are the factors associated with the duration of post-cyclonic migration? 472 households across 16 blocks (moujas) were selected as samples by stratified sampling.
This study found that migration after a cyclone is influenced by a combination of factors, including economic, geographic, and psychological elements, many of which are exacerbated or triggered by cyclone incidents themselves. It was further found that non-receipt of food and cash aid after a cyclone, loss of sources of income, the non-availability of alternative sources of income, lack of land ownership, and the severity of cyclones contributed to increased migration among households where a minority of household members (1-2) migrated. In contrast, non-receipt of food aid and the severity of the cyclone were significant factors in increasing migration among those households where a majority of household members (2+) migrated.
Finally, it was revealed that the duration of migrations in the non-cyclonic period depended on several factors, including household population, the farming profession of the migrants at the source area, migrants level of education, their employment status, the nature of their destinations, and the social network at the destination areas. In the post-cyclonic period, these factors included the level of education of the household head, the number of waged family members, cash aid from government and NGOs, the extent to which cyclones have impacted different factors, including the structure of housing, drinking water, health, crops, the number of members migrated from a household, the main profession of the migrants at the source and destination, the employment status of migrants, and destination areas.
This research specifically contributes to the study of migration due to climate change in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. This study recommends improving the socio-economic status of women, as their migration rate is low, and they do not move in vulnerable situations. In addition, it recommends providing reinforced construction materials for the individuals in the coastal area so that their houses can withstand cyclones. This study also recommends distributing aid based on the number of household members and avoiding manipulation and nepotism. Moreover, this study suggests that households nurture an alternative source of income for their livelihoods. Finally, this study proposes a framework for climate adaptation and migration. For an effective disaster management plan, governments and NGOs should use the findings to prioritise the development and well-being of people in cyclone-affected areas.

Date of Award	Nov 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton
Supervisor	Prof Darryl Newport (Supervisor), Prof Clare Rigg (Supervisor) & Dr Shahidul Islam (Supervisor)