Exposed and exploited: addressing the climate migration modern slavery nexus in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, loss and damage from climate change is hitting the poorest people hardest, impacting their lives and livelihoods in catastrophic ways. For many people, migration has become an unavoidable response – a last resort for those who can no longer sustain themselves.

However, rather than providing stability, migration often pushes people into deeper vulnerability, exposing them to exploitative labour conditions, modern slavery and human trafficking.

At this event, experts shared key insights from research, including a breakdown of climate-related economic and non-economic losses, migration trends, and real-life testimonies of migrants caught in exploitative labour systems.

National and international stakeholders were brought together to showcase research findings, discuss practical solutions, and to explore actionable steps to address key issues around climate migration and modern slavery in Bangladesh.

Livelihood disruption

Through our research, we have investigated the nexus between climate change, migration and vulnerability to modern slavery, focusing on two regions of Bangladesh that are experiencing climate-induced displacement and different types of climate risks.

Our study examined how climate change is disrupting livelihoods, the factors that drive households to migrate, and why some people migrate while others remain trapped in deteriorating conditions. We also analysed how migration decisions are shaped by climate risks, economic loss, inadequate social protection and governance gaps, leaving migrants vulnerable to exploitation.

The findings provide new evidence on the extent to which migrants are exposed to modern slavery, within country and at international destinations.

At its core, this issue is one of climate justice. The communities most affected by climate change are often those least responsible for it, yet they bear the greatest burden, both in terms of direct economic losses and the social and human costs of displacement.

This event brought together policymakers, civil society leaders, labour rights advocates, and climate and migration experts to explore urgent solutions.

It featured a panel discussion of experts from climate, migration, labour sectors to discuss policy gaps, protection needs and financing mechanisms for safer migration and resilience-building.

Speakers

Chloe Cranston, head of thematic advocacy programmes, Anti-Slavery International
Ritu Bharadwaj, director of climate resilience and loss and damage, ALL ACT/IIED

Panellists

Shakirul Islam (moderater), chair, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP)
Hafij Khan, climate negotiator, Least Developed Countries Group
Saqib Huq, executive director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
Kazi Amdadul Hoque, senior director and head of climate action, Friendship NGO
Adnan Qader, climate and water governance specialist, WaterAid Bangladesh

The conversation focused on working toward solutions that protect both the livelihoods and dignity of those affected, unpacking the findings, discuss concrete policy recommendations and charting a path toward more just, sustainable and rights-based responses to climate-induced migration.