Himalayan Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies Open Access

Reserach Article Causes of Migration Outflows and Its Impact on Socio-Economy in : An Exploring Study

Md. Tajul Islam Judge (Joint District Judge), Land Survey Tribunal, Jhenaidah, Bangladesh Abstract: Migration has become one of the major discussing issues at present world. Recently, *Corresponding Author this issue has become the most discussing issue in Bangladesh. This study investigated to find out the reasons and impact of migration outflows in Bangladesh. This study has been conducted from Md. Tajul Islam June 2020 to January 2021.Using secondary data, this paper attempted to explore the reasons of

Article History migration outflows andits impact on the socio-economic development in Bangladesh. Several Received: 30.04.2021 reports on migration outflows, journals, articles, research papers were the sources of data. 5 Accepted: 10.05.2021 returnee migrants were selected for collecting the supporting data through in-depth interview. As Published: 20.05.2021 the study was qualitative based, the data were analyzed in descriptive and contextual methods. The findings of this study have revealed that there are two kinds of reasons of migration outflows, Citations: push factors and pull factors, and these migration flows have a great impact on socio-economy of the country. Thus, this study has provided insightful information about the reasons and impact of Md. Tajul Islam, (2021); Causes of migration outflows in Bangladesh which might help the future researchers in the field of Migration Outflows and Its Impact on migration and policy makers of migration. Socio-Economy in Bangladesh: An Exploring Study. Hmlyn J Human Cul Keywords: Migration outflows, Reasons, Impacts, Socio-Economy, Bangladesh . Stud, 2(3) 14-19

INTRODUCTION: Migration is that the movement by people from one place to a different with the intention of settling temporarily or permanently within the new location legally or illegally. The movement is usually over long distances and from one country to a different, but internal migration is additionally possible. Migration may be individuals, family units or in large groups. And immigration is that the movement of individuals into a rustic to which they are not native so as to settle there, especially as permanent or future citizens. Immigrants are motivated to depart their native countries for a spread of reasons, including an absence of local access to resources, a desire for economic prosperity, family re- unification, get away prejudice, conflict or natural disaster, or just the wish to alter one's surroundings. According to the Overseas Employment and Migrations Act, 2013, section 2(2), migrant means any citizen of Bangladesh who has migrated to a foreign country for the purpose of overseas employment in any work or profession and is staying in that country.Bangladesh reached the rank of a low-middle-income country in 2014 (World Bank 2016). As the country grew economically, there was a significant increase in migration of Bangladesh over the last decade (Hossain 2001; Rouf and Jahan 2007). The urban population exploded from 14.1 million in 1981 to 35 million in 2005 and reached 53.1 million in 2014 (United Nations 2014, Biswas, R. K et al., 2019)). The number of human resources migrating abroad stood at 6,087 back in 1976, but grew to1 million-plus in 2017 (BMET website, 2017). On average, 400,000-plus workers leave Bangladesh for overseas employment each year (ILO, nd.). The scenario migration in Bangladesh warrants an investigation on the reasons for such rapid migration to aid policy makers to balance urban-rural developments and its impact on the economy of the country. Thus, this study has made an investigation to find out the reasons and impacts of migration outflows in Bangladesh.

Migration Outflows in Bangladesh Bangladesh could be a developing country from which an about eight million are working abroad. Migration is playing awfully a critical role to the . Most of those are recruited by the private recruitment agencies. The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) is to blame for the entire migration process in Bangladesh, including management of the method and ensuring of welfare of the migrants. In Bangladesh, there are more than 800 formal recruitment agencies.At present over five million Bangladeshis are currently working overseas, and they are contributing greatly to their families, communities and therefore the country's economy through remittances. Migration is regarded as a viable livelihood option and one in all the key development issues for Bangladesh.

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Md. Tajul Islam; J Human Cul Stud; Vol-2, Iss- 3 (May-Jun, 2021): 14-19 Bangladesh experienced a huge flow of outbound recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in different Gulf migration in the fiscal year 2017. In this fiscal year, it and South East Asian countries, including Saudi Arabia crossed one million mark with Bangladeshis migrating and Malaysia (Siddiqui, 2009). primarily to Europe, South-East Asia, and Gulf countries (BMET website, 2018). This is the largest However, many countries in the Middle East migration number recorded for a single year, and countries(particularly Gulf States), South East Asia, represents an increase of almost 34 percent over 2016. East Asia, and Western Europe demonstrated a need for Unfortunately, there is no data to see how many of professional, skilled, and semi-skilled migrant workers these outbound migrants have already returned, either to implement big projects and sustain economic growth. prematurely or after completing their work tenure. In For example, aggressive mega-investment infrastructure spite of high growth in migration for work, projects such as a proposed US$500 billion mega-city, Bangladesh‟s attempted labor market diversification the Jeddah Tower, and Riyadh Metro in Saudi Arabia; strategy has not worked to the desired level so far, the United Arab Emirates Expo 2020 and Dubai Blue according to a BMET official. For instance, data shows Water Island; Qatar‟s World Cup 2022 developments; that half of these 1 million-plus migrant workers have Bahrain‟s The Avenues; the Kuwait Olympic Village; gone to a single destination country – Saudi Arabia. and Oman‟s Ras Al Khar Eco-Resort Sur are good Bangladesh has not been successful in increasing its projects that could be aimed by the Bangladesh share in the labor marketing Hong Kong (China), Japan, Government and private sector for sending human the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (China), and resources for overseas employment. To sum up Gulf other destinations. However, efforts are still underway Cooperation Council (GCC) countries need workers for and the BMET‟s work through signing memoranda of the construction, hospitality and retail, care giving, and understanding and other bilateral agreements with medical sectors as well as in the research industry countries like Japan are gaining momentum. Due to the (Malit and Naufal,2017). As a result, migration flows global financial crisis and its impact on oil prices, there from Bangladesh increased after aforementioned years had been declining demand for less-skilled workers of decline, with555,000 migrant workers heading (figure 2), and restrictions have been placed on the overseas in 2015, and 757,000 going overseas in 2016.

Figure 1. Total Annual Outflows of Migrant Workers from Bangladesh, (2007–2017) (Source: BMET databaseOverseas Employment of Bangladeshi Workers from 2007 to 2017 (up to July) http://www.bmet.gov.bd/BMET/viewStatReport.action?reportnumber=20)

Object of this Study METHODOLOGY OF THIS STUDY The objective of this study was to find out the reasons and impact of migration outflows in This study attempted to find out the reasons of Bangladesh. migration outflows and its impact on socio-economy in Bangladesh. This study has been conducted from June 2020 to January 2021 in Kushtia district in Bangladesh.The study is not based on any statistical rigor. And for this, there was no separate 15

Md. Tajul Islam; J Human Cul Stud; Vol-2, Iss- 3 (May-Jun, 2021): 14-19 structured/semi-structured questionnaire, there was no public goods and infrastructure etc. Social networks code book, and no instruction manual employed for the among the immigrants reduce the issues that arise out of survey.Using secondary data, this paper attempted to asymmetric information, and thus provide further explore the reasons of migration outflows andits impact incentives within the source country to migrate. on the socio-economic development in Bangladesh. Goswami (1984) has presented his assessment of Several reports on migration outflows, journals, articles, foreign immigration within the post-independence research papers were the sources of data.5 returnee period. migrants were selected for collecting the supporting data through in-depth interview. Each interview was Migration outflows in Bangladesh has numerous supposed to last for more than 40 minutes if needed. All micro level effects on family or household. Most of the interviews were guided through aquestion set. The Bangladeshi migrants are temporary labor which is the question set was not structured questionnaire typically predominant type of migration found in Asia, whereby used in regular sample surveys. They were rather millions of left- behind families maintaining a better checklists of questions that would allow the interviewer living in their home countries by receiving remittance. to probe interviewees. Although the study has tried to Remittances sent by Bangladeshi outflows migrants perceive, understand, and catalog issuesrelevant to each make a significant contribution towards accelerating the interview regarding the use of data, there was a new socioeconomic development in the country. Islam et al., line of questioning cropping up from interviewee (2013) have used the time series data and explored the responses to existing questions. And, several reports, socioeconomic impact of international migration on journals, articles, research papers were the sources of Bangladesh. Their results shows that co-integration secondary data of the study. As the study was exists between literacy rate and growth rate of qualitative based, the data were analyzed in descriptive remittance which improves the living standard of the and contextual methods. people. The authors have also pointed out that migration outflows have not only opened the new ITERATURE EVIEW economic opportunities but also generated decision- L R making power especially among female workers.Islam There are variety of studies that target the socio- and Siddiqui (2010)have explored the association ethnic, political, and economic issues associated with between migration and socio-demographic characters migration that has been happening in large scale in by using the chi-square technique. Their findings have Bangladesh. These issues are important in recent revealed that the age at the time of marriage, education, decades. religion, living conditions, and occupation status impact migration significantly.For a large number of rural There are some studies that examine the causes of households, remittancesare a major source of earning to migration. During a somewhat journalistic account, guarantee subsistence, with empirical studies revealing Hazarika (1999) describes the character of immigration that remittances constituted half of the total income of across the border from Bangladesh. Supported personal these rural households (Hear, Bakewell, & Long, 2012). interviews and extensive traveling across and along the A study conducted at the beginning of the decade border, his account on Bangladeshi infiltration looking at migrants from Bangladesh, has put the highlights the matter of high population pressure, proportion of families economically benefiting at a devastation caused naturally and general destitution of figure of 56%, with 26.5% as losing and some individuals in Bangladesh as primary causes of 15.5%unclear (Siddiqui, 2001).Siddiqui has added that migration. He also finds that a number of the migration most of migrated people send remittance mainly to their are temporary and have a seasonal pattern. Using family members‟ alike wife, parents, brothers, sisters census data for 1971 and 1991, Kumar and Aggarwal and relatives. The amount of money is not same every (2003) has showed that distance and urbanization are year. Rather, it varies fromtime to time. In the pre- the numerous causes of internal migration while migration period, it is found by using HCI (Head Count differences in earnings is that the most vital reason Index) that 21% of themigrant households were behind international migration. Gogoi (2005) has moderately poor, but it was reduced dramatically to 7% further examined the role of per capita income, land- in the post-migration period. So, remittance raises the man ratio, and distance in determining the flow of annual household income at the micro level and it has a migration. While these two studies investigate causes of great impact on the socioeconomic development in both internal and external migration, Roy (2005) has Bangladesh. discussed various economic incentives for migration from Bangladesh. He has argued that instead of a Reasons of Migration Out flows in Bangladesh myopic consideration of relative earnings in current The primary factors that were attracting potential period, a more dynamic, life-time utility consideration migrant respondents to overseas migration were may be a better explanation of trans-border migration. favorable benefit packages and an increased income. He also thinks that a major a part of the incentives for Most of the returnee migrants have told in interview migration comes from elements outside the marketplace session that that they need salary-related data for like purchase of land, encroachment of public land and confirmed jobs abroad. They have added that they want forests, exploitation of common property resources, 16

Md. Tajul Islam; J Human Cul Stud; Vol-2, Iss- 3 (May-Jun, 2021): 14-19 to migrate for better life; because their previous marrying, better income etc.They have added that in migration(s) were profitable enough. The returnee their homeland they do not get or access the mentioned migrants have told in interview session that people opportunities and for this, they prefer to migrate abroad. migrate abroad for some specific reasons, such as good job opportunities, better living conditions, the feeling of Reasons of migrationoutflows in Bangladesh can be having more political and/or religious freedom, divided into two groups which include several numbers enjoyment, education, better medical care, attractive of factors. climates, security, family links,better chances of

Table 1: Reasons of Migration Outflows in Bangladesh Found from the Secondary Sources Reasons Factors Push Factors Not enough jobs, Few opportunities, Inadequate conditions, Desertification, Famine or drought, Political fear or persecution, Slavery or forced labor, Poor medical care, War, Poor medical care, Natural disasters, Death threats, Desire for more political or religious freedom, Pollution, Poor housing, Landlord/tenant issues, Bullying, Discrimination, Poor chances of marrying, Condemned housing (radon gas, etc.) Pull Factors Job opportunities, Better living conditions, The feeling of having more political and/or religious freedom, Enjoyment, Education, Better medical care, Attractive climates, Security, Family links, Industry, Better chances of marrying

Impact of Migration Outflows on the Socio- migrant‟s worker estimated 905 lakh, which was higher Economy in Bangladesh than the previous year, which was an account for 685 Outflows migration which leads to flow the lakh. In 2007-08 period, the remittance earned was remittance play an important strategy for socio- only USD 7914.781 million, after that, the trend economic development in Bangladesh. This paper has was gradually increased up to fiscal year 2014-15 tried to explore the impact of migration outflows in period, which accountfor US15316.91million, the Bangladesh. From the report of Bangladesh Economic highest remittance earned. Recently the table reveals Review, it is found that in the fiscal year 2007-08, that US dollar12769.5 in million remittances have been about 981 lakh workers were employed at abroad, earned in 2015-2016 by the county which is lower than but the trend was decreasing in the fiscal year 2010 - the previous year (US 14931.14) million in 2016- 11, which was account for 439 lakh. But, in the fiscal 17).The number of migration outflows and the amount year 2011-12, the amount of workers employment at of remittance in Bangladesh has been presented in the abroad risen to 691 lakh. However, recently, the following table.

Table 2: Number of Migration Outflows and Amount of Remittance in Bangladesh (2007-20017) FY No ofEmployment Amount of remittance (In Million US$) 2007-08 981000 7914.78 2008-09 650000 9689.16 2009-10 427000 10987.40 2010-11 439000 11650.32 2011-12 691000 12843.40 2012-13 441000 14461.15 2013-14 409000 14228.30 2014-15 461000 15316.91 2015-16 685000 14931.14 2016-17 905000 12769.5 (Source: Bangladesh Economic Review)

The remittance of migration outflows is regarded as remittance has been proved as the major determinant a vital driver for the advancement of social and factor of socio-economic development of the economic development. And it creates a relationship of Bangladesh. The World Bank report shows that mutual dependence between sending and receiving remittance contributed in reducing 6% of poverty in countries. It also facilitates to establish small scale Bangladesh. Hatemi-j & Uddin (2014) has found that enterprises atlocal level thus helping to community the remittance has a long run effects on poverty development. Then, it increases the flow of working reduction in Bangladesh, and poverty and remittance capital for entrepreneurship development which reinforce each other. Taylor, (1999) has stated that creating the new job opportunity. (Woodruff and remittance can play an important role to reduce the Zenteno, 2001). Farid et al., (2009) has stated that credit constraints. Evidences support that there is a having considered the current situation, the workers strong association between remittance and GDP in 17

Md. Tajul Islam; J Human Cul Stud; Vol-2, Iss- 3 (May-Jun, 2021): 14-19 Bangladesh (Akter, 2016: Paul & Das, 2011). BBS 4. Bangladesh Economic Review, (2017). Economic (2013) has showed that the remittances are becoming, if Advisor Wing, Finance Division, Ministry of not only, the major sources of income among the 78 Finance, Government of the People‟s Republic of percent of remittancereceiving households. Migration Bangladesh, Dhaka (accessed from outflows has positive impacts on socio-economic http://www.mof.gov.bd/en/budget/09_10/ber/bn/07 development of this country, in spite of having negative .%20Chapter-3%20_Bangla 9_.pdf) effects on trade and business in receiving country. But 5. BBS (2017).Bangladesh labor force survey. Chowdhury & Rabbi (2014) have showed that 6. Biswas, R. K., Rahman, N., Kabir, E., & Raihan, F. remittance has the adverse effect of on trade (2017). 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