Migration as a Mode of Adaptation to Extreme Climate Events in Bangladesh

The effects of climate change are likely to have adverse impacts on human life and livelihood of the people in Bangladesh. Indeed people at first instance try to adapt with the changed circumstances. However, migration in many cases is used as an adaptation strategy to respond to changes in the environment. The extreme natural disasters such as cyclones, floods and tidal waves, together with others socio-economic factors such as poverty and unemployment motivate people to move from their original place to other rural and urban areas in search of seasonal harvesting and employment. In response to multifarious challenges posed by climate change on human migration, organised and planned both internal and international migration can play a significant role. In this context, this paper argues to view migration itself as part of adaptation strategies not simply a failure of adaptation. It also analyses a range of possible policy responses to be adopted by the government of Bangladesh to facilitate climate related migration as a part of adaptation strategy.