Migration Patterns of the Bangla-Speaking Community in the Malay Peninsula

Bengal and the Malay Peninsula have had robust transregional connectivity since at least the third century BCE, as both regions were situated on opposite sides of the Bay of Bengal. Initially, such connectivity fostered the circulation of people, goods, and ideas. The Bangla-speaking community started migrating toward the Malay Peninsula during the colonial period. They are continuing such mobility till today. Yet, there has been no substantial study on their migration patterns. This paper examines a couple of interrelated issues. First, it discusses the theoretical framework of migration. The second set of issues study different migration patterns of the Bangla-speaking community. By employing Everett S. Lee’s migration model and using primary and secondary sources, this chapter aims to show various migration patterns of the Bengalis. This study is a humble effort to contribute to studying Bengali mobility patterns in the Malay Peninsula, engaging with their multiple layers of professional experience in colonial and early postcolonial time and space.