Migration pattern and everyday life of slum people: A study on Chittagong city

Migration on a permanent or temporary basis has always been one of the most important survival strategies adopted by people confronted by natural or human-caused disasters. Every year huge number of people in Bangladesh migrates from rural to urban areas in search of livelihoods, education and economic opportunities. Chittagong as the second largest urban area and commercial city is one of the main destinations for rural displaced poor people. Growing industries, city port, massive urbanization ‘attracts’ poor people for the possibility of work and better living. The aim of the present paper is to know the migration pattern and everyday life of the slum people in Chittagong city. Study shows poverty, unemployment, natural disasters, loss of homestead and agricultural lands, search for better livelihoods and economic activities are the main causes of migration. After migration they discover themselves in the most abandoned corner of the city with having minimum standard of living. Though they are part of the urban center, they do not have access most common city services like housing, food, education, water, sanitation, health care service and recreation. The social study results also highlight the basic needs of the migrants within urban areas and their interest to return in the village or origin places.