Rural-Urban Migration and Urbanization in Bangladesh

The main components of urban population growth in Bangladesh are examined in order to determine the relative importance of natural increase in-migration and territorial annexation in contributing to urban population growth from 1961 to 1974. It is shown that in-migration particularly rural-urban migration has been the major component of urban growth over this period and has been caused primarily by disparities in economic and social opportunities between urban and rural areas. The author also examines urban in-migration in the regional context and in relation to city size. The consequences of continuing rapid urbanization for both urban areas and for the countrys socioeconomic development plans are discussed.