Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
Akhtarun Khatun (26) a poor woman became a successful entrepreneur fighting with poverty and facing severe crisis in life. She used to live in Islampur Ambari village in Payraband Union under Mithapukur Upazila of Rangpur district. She was the youngest daughter of the five siblings of her parents. Her father was landless who was unable to bear the expenses of six members’ family let alone education.
Akhtarun dreamt for education from her early childhood. After completing Secondary School Certificate, it was almost difficult for her to get admission in the college due to severe hardship. But she was indomitable and wanted to take the challenge to go ahead. She started tuition for primary students and sewing handicraft bags in a shop of her village. She used to earn Tk 100 in a day. She bought an old sewing machine and started swing handicrafts bags by herself. She used to earn Tk 100- 150/ in a day and supporting her education and family. But it’s not enough to maintain the livelihood and other expenditures. She did not lose hope and continue to struggle. Later, she joined Empower Youth for Work (EYW) project of RDRS, Bangladesh in her village in which she received entrepreneur development training.
After receiving training, Akhtarun started a small business with a new momentum. She bought an electric cutting machine with a grant of taka twenty thousand from the project and her own savings. She earns around Tk 40 thousand a month by selling bags in the local markets now. She can save at least taka fifteen thousand per month meeting all the expenditure.
She now can take care of her and the family properly. Meanwhile, she had completed post graduationdegree.When asked, Akhtarun said, it was really very challenging to overcome the hardships in my life. It became a tale that I could share with others. When a girl receives education and earn by herself, a lot of good things happen in life. So we need to dream amid the crisis and take the challenges of life to go ahead for sustainable development.
