ABSTRACT
Disaster induced migration has the potential to become a phenomenon of a scale and scope not experienced in human memory. Displacement due to disaster is considered to be a socio-economic and political problem, when it gets solved, the issue of displacement is also ignored. Bangladesh was struck by a category-4 cyclone (Sidr) on the evening of 15 November in 2007 which resulted in displacement of 650,000 people. Such migration posed a serious threat towards social stability and leads towards social conflict. Migration is generally considered as a source of social conflict. Over 3 million people live in slums and squatters of Dhaka city with very little utility service. Slums and squatters are the informal settlements of Dhaka city that accommodate the low-income group of people. Conflict (quarrel, clash, fight) in the slums and squatters is a regular phenomenon. The displaced persons are knowingly and unknowingly discriminated on various grounds and suffer as the survivors of various stigmas. The study reveals that, undue influence by the muscleman, discrimination between migrated and poor slum dwellers, and demand for money by the terrorist group, ignorance to the migrated people by the different quarters and sexual harassment to the migrated adolescent girls are responsible for slumping of social conflict. Their voices are ignored, their pleas are neglected and thus they are excluded from the mainstreamed section in the society.
ABSTRACT
Improvement of water management and services remains as a key challenge towards ensuring sustainable governance system presently. It is beyond belief that water rich countries like Bangladesh have to face water crisis notwithstanding her location at one of the largest fresh water store houses in the world. Water situation of Dhaka city especially in the poor slum areas is very wretched and under the threat of serious water borne diseases. It is evident from the survey findings commissioned in two slums under Dhaka City Corporation that, absence of governance in water management and services resulted in misappropriation of water and anguishes of the marginal dwellers living in the slums. The paper aims to explain the pattern of water governance at the slums in Dhaka Metropolitan City. It also directs efforts towards exploring causes behind conflicts surrounded by water issue as well as nature of conflict among three parties i.e. slum dwellers, the government and non-government. The study is ended with a set of recommendations in an attempt to ensure better water governance at the slum areas.