Learning from the Mud Talk : Continuum Understanding of Seasonal Migration in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh

To explain the theoretical link between migration and development, this paper conceptualizes that seasonal migration offers compartmental development, which is a step-by-step ‘priority accomplishing activities’ ranging from fulfilment of primary needs to upliftment of social status. In exploring seasonal migration linked with the three zones namely i) zone of influence-questioning the ‘why’ aspects, ii) zone of involvement-questioning the ‘how’ aspects, and iii) zone of investment-questioning the ‘what’ aspects, this research adopts a qualitative research design. The thematic analysis based on 15 in-depth interviews with brickfield workers shows that due to limited working opportunities in rural areas of southwest Bangladesh, seasonal migration holds opportunities to earn an ‘extra’ amount of money that is impossible to earn at the place of origin. Furthermore, seasonal migrants invest the economic gain immediately at the place of origin, and social gain in the next season to find more profitable and consistent working opportunities