Born in a poverty-stricken family, 19-year-old Afsana Khatun has witnessed poverty and struggle since childhood. She lost her mother seven years ago due to pregnancy complications. Afsana had to get married and take responsibility of a family, although she was not mature enough for conjugal life.
A few years later, her husband incurred a loss in business, prompting him to sell their homestead. The family turned homeless. In such a situation, her sister-in-law gave them an old tin-shed house. However, the house was damaged, and the roof used to leak rainwater. Afsana has to live with her husband, mother-in-law and a daughter aged one and a half years. Getting no way out, she took up the job of housemaid.
Suddenly, she came to know that Bashundhara Shuvosangho had been imparting sewing training to poor women for free. She received the training and later got a sewing machine from the organisation.
Expressing joy over the sewing machine Afsana said, “I wanted to support my family, but mere training was not enough for me. A sewing machine was out of my reach. However, Bashundhara Group extended its helping hand and gave me a sewing machine. I am very confident now to work and earn money.”
Mst Aliya is another struggling woman like Afsana. She used to earn money by making shopping bags with a sewing machine. The family was doing well with the income of Alia and her husband. Unfortunately, their house was burnt to ashes. She, along with her husband and baby, managed to come out of the house. Locals made futile efforts to put out the fire. Clothes, some savings, furniture and a sewing machine, all were gutted.
Her brother-in-law gave them a tin-shed house for temporary living. It is not possible for her husband to earn the money needed to meet family demands and the cost of education for their child.
Although Aliya knew how to operate a sewing machine, she could not make anything except shopping bags. Later, she received further training from Bashundhara Shuvosangho Training Centre. She also got a sewing machine from the largest industrial conglomerate.
She became very emotional after getting the sewing machine and shed tears. She said Bashundhara Group has bound her with gratitude forever.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
