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PurposeThis study intends to explore the impact of occupation and income on informal migrants in the face of COVID-19 induced lockdown in Bangladesh and their coping strategies to survive the pandemic situation.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a qualitative research design in which four urban areas were chosen purposively from various parts of Dhaka city. The authors conducted 21 semi-structured in-depth interviews, four FGDs and eight months over participant observation for achieving study objectives. The four stages of data analysis used a thematic approach in the interpretive phenomenological analysis.FindingsThe results showed that respondents were massively affected due to loss of income and occupation in the period of induced lockdown. Besides, most people lost their earning sources entirely in this amid pandemic which bound them starvation in the mealtime along with several dynamic complications. The findings also revealed that they followed some surviving strategies such as taking loans, reducing expenses, consuming less food, selling land, jewelry, and goods, relatives and neighbor support, and government relief. Although these strategies somewhat supported them to struggle with the situation, their livelihood features became fragile immensely.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings will be an important guiding principle for the policymakers, aid organizations and development practitioners to prepare development policies for vulnerable informal migrants in developing countries like Bangladesh.Originality/valueThis is the first study that explores the informal migrants’ occupation and income during COVID-19 induced lockdown in Bangladesh. This research also highlights coping strategies of the informal migrants to survive the pandemic situation.

Food insecurity is one of the rising problems in Bangladesh, and it is severely prevalent among informal migrant workers. In this case, the COVID‐19 pandemic has multiplied the food insecurity of informal migrant workers. This study explores and synthesizes the COVID‐19 induced food insecurity impact among informal migrants and recommends policy actions to tackle the COVID‐19 led food crisis in Bangladesh. A qualitative research approach, including in‐depth interviews, four FGDs, and participant observation, has been applied to data collection from different parts of Dhaka city. A thematic approach to interpretive phenomenological analysis is followed in this study. The results show that COVID‐19 induced lockdown significantly affects informal migrants' household food security. Most participants report severe complications due to food insecurity like consuming less food, price hiking, no fish or meat, potato, and vegetable. Food insecurity leads to migrant's chronic food shortage, starvation, malnutrition of mother and children, and unhealthy food. As a result, the way of life of informal migrants has been directed to more fragility and vulnerability during the pandemic; even they are not affordable to maintain a minimal level of family affairs and necessity. The findings of this study would be essential guidelines for the governmental and non‐governmental organizations and development practitioners to address the food insecurity situations.

This study seeks to investigate the livelihood patterns of the climate-induced people migrated by the flood in 2017 in the char areas. At the same time, examines a number of outcomes i.e. causes of displacement, demographic and socio-economic conditions of the affected people and the opportunities to obtain the local public services. A triangulation approach has been employed, where respectably qualitative and quantitative data have been obtained through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, participant observation and a household questionnaire survey.  The data have been collected from three unions of two Upazila (sub-district) in the Gaibandha district. The results reveal that the flood-affected displaced people were migrated to the close at hand places owing to their economic vulnerability, damage of physical properties. And they were suffering adequately for their joblessness, scarcity of housing, health issues, and lower opportunities to the local civic amenities. The exploratory findings would be a crucial thoughtfulness for the disaster policymakers, managers, and civil societies.

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