Through Bashundhara Shuvosangho, the country’s leading industrial group, Bashundhara Group, is striving to make financially vulnerable women self-reliant across the nation. Women from rural poor families are being trained in sewing and provided with sewing machines for free to make them skilled. Continuing this initiative, Bashundhara Shuvosangho has now stood beside impoverished women in the northern district of Lalmonirhat. Funded by Bashundhara Group and organized by Bashundhara Shuvosangho, 15 underprivileged women from Kaliganj upazila of the district were formally given sewing machines.
Many were overwhelmed with joy upon receiving the free sewing machines. Some widowed women found a lifeline, and financially struggling students found a way to continue their education. They say that now they can earn money through sewing while managing household tasks or continuing their studies at home, helping to alleviate many of their hardships. Guests present at the event praised this initiative by Bashundhara and called it a “noble” effort, urging that such support continue.
Recently, at an event held in the hall room of Madanpur Bairati Government Primary School in Kaliganj upazila, 15 underprivileged women were formally presented with sewing machines.
The event was graced by guests including Kaliganj upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Maulana Ruhul Amin, upazila BNP convening committee member Farhan Uddin Ahmed Pasha, assistant headmaster of KUP High School Kailash Chandra Roy, former secretary of upazila Jamaat Hasan Abdul Malek, sub-inspector of Kaliganj police station Saifur Rahman, and general secretary of Kaliganj Press Club Titas Alam. The event was hosted by the general secretary of Lalmonirhat Shuvosangho, Naim Islam. Among others, speeches were given by Director of Bashundhara Shuvosangho Zakaria Zaman, Kaler Kantho Nilphamari correspondent Bhuban Roy Nikhil, News24 TV’s Lalmonirhat correspondent Robiul Hasan, and beneficiary Susmita Chakraborty. Also present were senior officer of Bashundhara Foundation Md. Mamun, northern region coordinator of Kaler Kantho Multimedia Sohel Rana Swapno, DBC News Lalmonirhat correspondent Niaz Ahmed Sipon, local journalist Saju Mia, Shuvosangho central committee joint general secretary Md. Yasin Arafat Rafi, member Tahmid Arefin Sajid, and convener of Dhaka University branch Md. Aminur Rahman, among others.
Unyielding Susmita Is now self-reliant
Her father, Samar Chakraborty, was a businessman. His income supported the household and the education of his three children. After his sudden death, his wife Lokkhi Rani Chakraborty was left struggling with their two daughters and one son. As no one was there to run the shop, it was shut down.
The family tried to survive on the small income from renting out the shop space. Due to financial struggles, the elder daughter was married off with great difficulty. But the second daughter, Susmita Chakraborty, didn’t give up. She was in fifth grade when her father passed away.
Hailing from Bairati village of Kaliganj upazila, Lalmonirhat, Susmita continued her education despite dire poverty. While in grade ten, she began tutoring to earn some income—a practice she continues to this day. She is now a final-year honors student in accounting at a local college. Alongside her studies and tutoring, she has been making and selling various products online—many of which are related to sewing. She is also supporting her younger brother’s education.
Her brother is appearing for the HSC exams this year. Susmita says, “I was shattered by my father's death. But I had strong determination and interest. So, I never gave up. Despite hardships, I am continuing my education, teaching my brother, and trying to help my mother with the household.” She had been feeling the need for a sewing machine for a long time.
Susmita adds, “Most of the products I make for online sale are sewing-related. With this machine, I am now self-sufficient. It will greatly increase my income, which will support both my brother’s and my education. I will also be able to help my family progress. I will be eternally grateful to Bashundhara Group and Shuvosangho.”
Rashida’s children can now study without worry
“Since my husband’s death, I’ve been struggling with my two children. I can neither feed them properly nor afford their education. I can't share this with anyone, and I can’t bear it anymore.” This is how Rashida Begum expressed her feelings after receiving a sewing machine from Bashundhara Group upon completion of three months of training.
By then, tears were already flowing from her eyes. Rashida is the widow of the late Entaj Ali from Kaliganj upazila, Lalmonirhat. Her son recently took the SSC exams, and her daughter is in honors. She had already married off her elder daughter while her husband was still alive. Her husband used to run a small tea stall at Kaliganj Bazaar. After he died two years ago, the family faced severe hardship. They struggled even for food.
Rashida’s younger son was forced to run the now-defunct tea stall in the evenings after school to support the family. Due to his SSC exams, the stall remained closed for nearly five months, and Rashida struggled to manage the household. She was looking for an alternative income source.
Bashundhara Shuvosangho showed her the way. After completing a three-month free sewing training, she received a machine as a gift from Bashundhara Group. To her, it's not just a machine—it’s a means of survival. The widowed Rashida said, “I didn’t know sewing, and I didn’t have a machine. Bashundhara gave me both. I will do my best to earn from this machine so I can feed and educate my children. I will pray from my heart for those who showed me this path.”
Samit takes his mother's ‘dream’ home
Toothless smile. Bald head. Always giggling. That’s Samit. A first-grade student at a local primary school and the younger of two siblings—his sister is in seventh grade. Samit knew beforehand that his mother, Samina Akter Shamu, would receive a sewing machine. So he insisted she take him with her on the day she collected it.
To fulfill her son’s wish, she brought him along. During the ceremony organized by Bashundhara Group and Shuvosangho to distribute sewing machines, Samit wandered outside the room, occasionally peeking through the window. Eventually, his mother, along with 15 women, was handed the sewing machine, ending his wait.
He dashed into the room, held one side of the machine while his mother held the other. Grinning with his toothless smile, he walked out, though the machine was heavy for him. He was determined! He walked with his mother, resting now and then. From the venue, across the football field, they made their way home. His mother repeatedly tried to take the machine on a rickshaw or van, but he refused. Samit said, “My mother got a new machine. I won’t let anyone touch it.”
It’s as if little Samit was carrying his mother’s dreams home. Samina Akter Shamu said, “I already knew some basic sewing work, but I didn’t have a machine. Now, after learning everything, I also have a machine. This is now a source of income for our family.”
Bashundhara group Is working to build an equitable society
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A sewing machine is not just a device. It can be a tool for fulfilling dreams. It can be the lifeline for a young widow, a woman abandoned by her husband, evicted from her in-laws’ house, abused in her father’s home, or a student from a disadvantaged family. The spinning wheel of a sewing machine can carry the dreams of a woman who might one day become a renowned entrepreneur and a guide to thousands of others.
Thus, such extraordinary initiatives are vital not only for nation-building but also for maintaining a stable state. For this noble initiative, Bashundhara Group deserves deep gratitude. A society free from discrimination is a key demand of the masses. Women's empowerment is essential to building such a society. In this context, initiatives like those taken by Bashundhara Group play a special role.
The women trained and provided with sewing machines through Bashundhara Shuvosangho will not only meet household needs but will also earn by sewing clothes for others. They will become self-reliant and take part in decision-making in the family. This will reduce incidents of violence and neglect against women.
If established business and social organizations like Bashundhara Group continue such steps, building an equitable society will become much easier. As each family progresses, society progresses, and so does the country. Therefore, along with government initiatives, private support must also be extended to advance the nation.
These women will one day become role models in society
If the industrialists of our country spend even a portion of what they use for breakfast or minor luxuries on the betterment of ordinary people, they could do a lot for society. Some of them already do. One of them is Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan. Bashundhara Group and Shuvosangho could have spent the funds used for training and sewing machines elsewhere, but instead, they chose to help underprivileged women—a truly noble gesture.
Islam does not belittle women. Society comprises half women, half men. So we cannot hope for social development without including women. Today, the women who received machines—if they work after completing their household chores—will see much improvement in their lives. One day, they will become role models. Others will find the strength to move forward by looking at them.
Bashundhara Group has set a remarkable example by standing beside underprivileged women. Their efforts for national development and the improvement of people’s lives can be a model for others. We hope that with Bashundhara Group’s support, Bashundhara Shuvosangho will continue various social activities across the country.
A unique initiative by Bashundhara group to eradicate poverty
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We appreciate this noble initiative to stand beside rural poor women. Bashundhara Group deserves immense gratitude for choosing one of the most remote areas—Kaliganj in Lalmonirhat district—for this effort. This upazila is home to many underprivileged people as well as victims of river erosion and flooding. Many children from these families are unable to pursue education due to poverty and face various forms of social stigma.
Keeping that in mind, Bashundhara Group, a leading industrial entity, selected beneficiaries through their social organization Shuvosangho, trained them for three months practically—this is an exceptional step. These backward and underprivileged women will now be able to earn from home during idle hours. They’ll be able to improve their household, ensure proper meals, and educate their children.
As a result, the advancement of these families will benefit our society and country. Seeing these self-reliant women, other disadvantaged women will gain hope and find new paths. With sewing machines in their hands, many more will become self-reliant. Prosperity will return to their families.
Some student beneficiaries will now be able to finance their own education. Some women will be able to support their husbands by earning from home alongside their daily chores. This is a unique initiative by Bashundhara to permanently eradicate poverty from society.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
