Desk Report:
After losing her husband, Ruma took on the sole responsibility of supporting her family and two children. Despite battling numerous hardships for 12 years to ensure her children’s education, she now faces the risk of her son’s schooling coming to an end due to a lack of funds. In this difficult situation, ‘Bashundhara Shuvosangho’ has stepped forward to support her. Following a three-month sewing training program, Ruma received a sewing machine—a gift that has ignited a new ray of hope. She now aspires to overcome her family’s financial struggles through her own earnings and build a secure future for her children.
Like Ruma, 99 other women—all navigating their own life struggles—have been given the opportunity to become self-reliant. Bashundhara Group provided a sewing machine to each of these 100 women—20 from each of the following upazilas: Nandail and Gouripur in Mymensingh, and Barhatta, Sadar, and Durgapur in Netrokona—following the completion of their sewing training. Organized by ‘Bashundhara Shuvosangho,’ this initiative aims to create employment opportunities for women by leveraging their skills, ultimately helping to restore financial stability to their families.
The most recent event under this program was held in the hall room of the Comrade Moni Singh Memorial Museum in Durgapur town, Netrokona. The chief guest at the event was the renowned author, advisor to Bashundhara Group, and head of ‘Bashundhara Shuvosangho,’ Imdadul Haq Milan.
The event was presided over by Md. Jamal Talukdar, president of the upazila chapter of ‘Bashundhara Shuvosangho,’ and moderated by the organization’s advisor, Md. Masum Billah. Special guests included Upazila Executive Officer Ahmed Sadat; Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station, Khandaker Shaker Ahmed; Press Club President Tobarak Hossain; Upazila Academic Supervisor Mohammad Nasir Uddin; General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) district committee, Alkach Uddin Mir; General Secretary of the CPB upazila committee, Morshed Alam; and senior advisors of ‘Bashundhara Shuvosangho,’ S. M. Rafiqul Islam Rafiq and Nirmalendu Sarkar Babul, among others. Senior local administration officials and prominent figures were present at each of the events held across the five upazilas. Speaking at the event, Imdadul Haq Milan stated that the Bashundhara Group is gifting sewing machines to help underprivileged women become self-reliant. Through this, they will be able to earn an income, bring financial stability to their households, and strengthen their own standing.
He noted that many women have transformed their lives after receiving sewing machines from the Bashundhara Group. Some, who began with a single machine, went on to acquire ten more. They have been able to send their children to school and have established themselves as entrepreneurs. Beyond creating employment for themselves, some have even generated job opportunities for others.
Upazila Executive Officer Ahmed Sadat remarked that this initiative by ‘Bashundhara Shubhoshangha’ is highly commendable. The program is not limited to the mere distribution of sewing machines; the women were first equipped with skills through a three-month training course before being provided with the necessary tools. Consequently, they are now able to earn an income and contribute to the economic well-being of their families.
He expressed hope that by utilizing these sewing machines, the women will improve their quality of life, and their success will inspire other women to pursue self-reliance.
For the 100 women who received these sewing machines, the gift represents more than just a means of employment—it signifies a dream for a new beginning. Leveraging the skills acquired during their training, they have expressed a firm resolve to change their fortunes, overcome their families’ financial hardships, and build a self-reliant life.
