Bashundhara Group supports coastal women with sewing training, machines

Surrounded by the Bishkhali River to the east, the Baleshwar River to the west near the Sundarbans, and the Bay of Bengal to the south, Barguna’s Patharghata is a remote coastal upazila prone to river erosion. It is home to many impoverished families, including fisherfolk who risk their lives at sea to support their families.

Tragically, many fishermen never return after encountering storms at sea. While some bodies are recovered, others remain missing for years, leaving families devastated and without an income earner. In these households, women—often widows—are forced to step up, taking on various risky jobs such as clay work or fishing to survive.

To empower these coastal women, Bashundhara Group, through its social initiative Bashundhara Shubhosangho, has extended support to ultra-poor women in Patharghata. The initiative included three months of free sewing training, followed by the distribution of sewing machines, enabling the women to generate income from home.

On 16 May, Bashundhara Group formally handed over sewing machines to destitute, widowed, and abandoned women at a ceremony held at the Patharghata Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Voices from the event

Patharghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mizanur Rahman, who attended as the chief guest, praised Bashundhara’s initiative, saying, “This is a truly commendable humanitarian effort. Their contribution to women’s empowerment, education, and social welfare is undeniable. The sewing machines are not just tools—they are symbols of confidence and dignity.”

Zakaria Zaman, Director of Bashundhara Shubhosangho, said, “So far, over 2,000 women across the country have been made self-reliant through the free distribution of sewing machines by Bashundhara Group. These machines, along with training, are changing countless lives. We hope to be companions in the dreams of coastal women—so they can change their fate and contribute not only to their families but to the country’s economy as well.”

Others present at the event included local leaders, journalists, and representatives from various political and social organisations. They all lauded the initiative as a powerful step toward sustainable social change.

Many of the recipients shared their heart-wrenching life stories, moving both the guests and the audience to tears. Their sorrow was mixed with hope—the sewing machines representing a lifeline toward self-reliance.

“Now I can feed my children three times a day”

One of the recipients, Munni Akter, broke down in tears as she recounted her struggles. “Since last Eid-ul-Azha, we haven’t eaten meat. Just the other day, my daughter Fatima asked for beef after smelling it cooking next door. But with my Tk1,000 monthly salary from a kindergarten, how could I afford any?” she said.

After her husband Ismail passed away four years ago, Munni, a widow with two children, faced extreme hardship. Bashundhara Shubhosangho stepped in with free training and a sewing machine. “Now I’ll earn enough to give my children proper meals,” she said with hope in her eyes.

“The more the machine runs, the more my fate will turn”

Hanufa Begum, another beneficiary, lost her husband Zakir just 13 days after he went to Saudi Arabia for work. Since then, she had been struggling to provide for her family by stitching quilts.

After receiving sewing training and a free machine from Bashundhara Group, she said, “This machine will change my life. I don’t want to live in poverty anymore. May Allah bless the owners of Bashundhara Group.”

Husbands lost to the sea, but not their will to survive

When Cyclone Sidr struck in 2007, Marjina Akter’s husband went missing while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. Their only child was just a year and a half old. Since then, life for Marjina has been a relentless struggle—carrying her toddler on her hip, she worked door to door as a domestic worker to survive.

Today, that struggle continues. But she no longer fights alone.

Thanks to an initiative by the Bashundhara Shubhosangho, Marjina and many others like her have found new hope. After completing a three-month-long training in tailoring, they were each given a sewing machine—an essential tool that can help them earn a livelihood from their homes.

Clutching the machine with joy, Marjina wept as she remembered her husband. “I’m very happy to receive this sewing machine,” she said through tears. “It will bring financial stability, In Sha Allah.” For her, the machine is more than a tool—it's a lifeline, a fresh start.

The same story of pain and perseverance echoes in the voice of Rina Begum. On 21 July 2018, her husband disappeared at sea while fishing. There were 18 men on that trawler; only 10 returned. Her husband was among the eight who never came back. “We never found him. He left me and our son behind. Our boy was only eight years old then,” she said.

Since then, Rina has lived at her father’s home. Her mother used to collect leftover fish from fishermen’s nets and sell them to feed the family. Despite the hardship, Rina ensured her son continued schooling. He has just completed his SSC exams.

“I’ve struggled a lot to educate him,” Rina said proudly. For years, she dreamed of owning a sewing machine. “If I had one, I could earn from home and raise my child better. Bashundhara Group has fulfilled that dream,” she added, her voice breaking. “This is a huge gift in my life. I’m deeply grateful to them.”

Marjina and Rina represent countless widowed and abandoned women from the coastal region of Patharghata in Barguna. On the day sewing machines were handed over, hope floated through the air of the cyclone-prone town.

At a special event organised by Bashundhara Shubhosangho, women from across the upazila—widows, divorcees, and those living in hardship—received sewing machines after completing three months of training. Many were overcome with emotion. Tears rolled down some faces, while others lit up with dreams of a better future. These were not just machines—they were stepping stones towards self-reliance, survival, and dignity.

In coastal areas like Patharghata, where women often battle alone against poverty and disaster, such support is nothing short of a blessing. The loss of a husband may never be healed, but these efforts offer women the chance to reshape their lives with hope and purpose.

This is not merely a tale of grief—it is a story of courage, determination, and dreams. Through its initiatives, Bashundhara Shubhosangho continues to ignite hope in the lives of vulnerable women across Bangladesh. Women who once struggled just to survive are now learning to build their futures with their own hands. And that sends a powerful message—not just for Patharghata, but for society as a whole: change is possible.

'Bashundhara Group sets an unmatched example in social responsibility'
—   Mizanur Rahman, UNO, Patharghata
“Patharghata is a remote, poverty-stricken upazila. Many here live below the poverty line,” said the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. “Bashundhara’s initiative is helping local women become self-reliant. It’s a shining example of corporate social responsibility.”

He added, “While in Rangabali, Patuakhali, I witnessed their good work firsthand. They even established a school in a char area where education had never reached before. I hope similar efforts continue here in Patharghata.”

'Everyone should follow Bashundhara’s example'
—   Ismail Hossain Esme Shikdar, Member Secretary, Patharghata Municipal BNP
 “This region is extremely impoverished. Many families struggle for even a meal. Bashundhara Group has come as a blessing for them. Through Bashundhara Shubhosangho, they’ve stood beside the helpless women of the fishing communities,” he said. “If others come forward like Bashundhara, these marginalised people would get some relief.”

'A powerful initiative for neglected women'
—   Maulana Bazlur Rahman, President, Jamaat-e-Islami, Patharghata Municipality
“This effort to empower poor women is highly commendable,” he noted. “If more organisations followed this path, we could become a self-reliant nation. With just one sewing machine, a woman can run her household. The women receiving this training can now support their families while staying within their cultural and religious values.”

'If all step forward, poverty will end'
—   Maulana Monirul Islam, Senior Vice-President, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Patharghata Upazila
“This isn’t charity—it’s empowerment,” said Maulana Monirul. “Bashundhara trained these women first, then gave them the tools to earn. That’s the kind of meaningful social work we need. If more companies do the same, poverty in coastal areas could become a thing of the past.”

SOURCE : Daily Sun