Factors Determining Immobility Decision of the People at Risk in Coastal Bangladesh

The people of the coastal region are more vulnerable to natural hazard-triggered disasters. Despite the severe climatic risk, some people from this region do not want to migrate. Even when Government support is provided for relocation, they are reluctant to migrate. This study explores the factors determining the immobility decision of the people at risk in disaster-prone coastal Bangladesh. This paper is based on primary data. For the study, 428 respondents were selected using a systematic random sampling procedure for a questionnaire survey from seventeen villages in Khulna, Shatkhira, and Barguna districts. Various analytical methods such as descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and logistic regression have been used to perform the quantitative analyses. Major results suggest that the people living in the study area suffered considerable financial loss, infrastructural loss, and cattle loss due to climatic hazards. Their lives are also at risk due to natural hazards, but most are reluctant to migrate from that location. Among 428 respondents, only 4% of respondents want to migrate, and 96% of them do not want to migrate in the coming years. Socioeconomic factors insufficient savings to move; business here; more financial advantages in the current location have a statistically significant association with immobility decision. It also includes Support from Non-government Organizations. Some non-economic factors like no religious conflicts with neighbors or the community; and no political conflicts are significantly associated with the respondent's immobility decision. Some demographic factors also impact the respondents' immobility decisions. Household size of the respondents, the physically challenged member in the household, number of generation(s) living in the location receive an early warning before a hazard; these factors have a statistically significant impact on immobility decisions. The respondents make immobility decisions because of some economic and non-economic benefits they enjoy in their region.

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