2.10 Causes of Migration

Push Factors 

Instability and economic depression in Bangladesh serve as push factors because they create an unstable business environment that discourages investments and economic growth, leading to reduced job opportunities, lower wages, and an overall decline in the standard of living. This economic hardship prompts individuals to seek better economic prospects and stability in other countries.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349387646_Push-Pull_Factors_of_Undocumented_Migration_from_Bangladesh_to_West_Bengal_A_Perception_Study

Pull Factors 

Based on the opinions of 85% of the survey participants within the article, the allure of economic prospects such as job availability and financial stability in West Bengal played a significant role in attracting migrants to the region. As well as the close geographical proximity of Bangladesh and West Bengal, along with shared cultural similarities, common food preferences, similar climate, belief in finding refuge, friendly interactions, a sense of community, and the welcoming nature of the people in West Bengal, which all contribute to pull movement of the population from Bangladesh to West Bengal.

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ848371#:~:text=Geographic%20proximity%20of%20Bangladesh%20and,from%20Bangladesh%20to%20West%20Bengal.

Ravenstein’s laws of Migration

Referring to the 1st law of Ravenstein, which states that "Most migrants move only a short distance," can be observed in the pattern of rural-to-urban migration. Many rural residents in Bangladesh migrate to nearby cities and urban areas within the country to access job opportunities, education, and improved living standards. For example, people from rural villages in the Ganges Delta region might move to nearby cities like Dhaka or Chittagong in search of employment in manufacturing, services, or trade sectors.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02664763.2014.1001327#:~:text=Four%20types%20of%20migration%20behavior,under%20consideration%20of%20this%20paper.