Male migration cost up, female down

The overseas migration cost for each male rose by 9.74 per cent to Tk 3.75 lakh while that for female plummeted by nearly 3.8 per cent to Tk 86,459, said a survey report.

The cost of international migration was 3,05,911 in 2012-14 and 3,42,253 in 2015-17.But the cost went down by 5 per cent in 2017 compared to what was in 2014. In 2020, it decreased by 7 per cent over the period of 2017.

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit on Wednesday presented the findings of a long-running panel survey of over 6,000 households spanning over 20 districts of Bangladesh.

The workshop titled “Impact of Migration on Transformation to Sustainability: Poverty and Development in Bangladesh” was held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.

However, the female migration cost in 2017 effectively decreased by 20 per cent compared to 2014. In 2020, it decreased by around 18 per cent compared to 2017.

The research compared economic sustainability of internal migrant, international migrant and non-migrant households. It found that among these groups internal migrant households are best able to protect expenditure against adverse climate and health shocks.

The research was led by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui in collaboration with Dr C Rashaad Shabab, University of Sussex, Dr Ananta Neelim, University of Tasmania, and Md Mahmudol Hasan Rocky of RMMRU.

Among others, Prof Mustafizur Rahman of CPD, Dr Md Habibur Rahman of Bangladesh Bank, Prof Atonu Rabbani of BRAC University, Md Shahidul Alam, director general of BMET, Dr Nashid Rizwana Monir, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, Prof Selim Raihan, University of Dhaka, and Tapati Saha of UN Women participated in the discussion.

Dr Tasneem Siddiqui presented her keynote speech and highlighted the following issues.

Increased Return Flow

The research found major changes in the migration status that came down between the second and third waves of coronavirus. The increased number of returnee migrants is directly linked to Covid-19.

Flow of remittance

Compared to 2017, remittances fell by 8 per cent per household in nominal terms in 2020. When 5 per cent inflation per year is added, the reduction in remittance in real terms is 23 per cent. The amount of remittances sent by female migrants increased by 16 per cent in nominal terms, and in real terms, it reduced by 1.6 per cent.

Expenditure Growth and Migration Experience

During the Wave 2 survey, the expenditure growth was very strong across all households. The share of food expenditure was decreasing while the share of non-food expenditure was increasing rapidly. During the Wave 3 survey, the households reduced non-food expenditure and increased food expenditure. Despite shocks, migration appears to enhance the economic sustainability of the households.

Poverty Dynamics and Migration

Poverty of all three groups – internal, international and non-migrants – has declined. In 2014, 31 per cent of internal migrants, 10 per cent of international migrants and 20 per cent of non-migrant households were below poverty line.