Females develop self-confidence with support from Bashundhara Group

Recently, Bashundhara Group has distributed sewing machines among 10 insolvent women at Sariakandi in Bogura.

Noted litterateur and daily Kaler Kantho Editor-in-Chief Imdadul Haq Milan attended the programme as the chief guest and handed over the machines to the women. Prior to distributing the machines, the women were imparted training on tailoring. Shuvosangho, a social organisation of Bashundhara Group’s vernacular daily Kaler Kantho, established the training centre for economic emancipation of the women in the upazila.

In his address, Imdadul Haq Milan said “With the support of Bashundhara Group, efforts to push rural women to solvency are underway. Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has asked for establishing training centres in every district and upazila.”

Nearly two months ago, Shuvosangho training centre was launched in Sariakandi.  Ten women who successfully completed training from the centre were presented with the sewing machines. They are expected to stand on their feet and support their families.

Imdadul Haq Milan also said the social programmes of Bashundhara Group, the country’s largest industrial conglomerate, are aimed at ensuring self-reliance of the women, education of all children and overall socioeconomic development. Accordingly, we keep establishing training centres, schools and libraries alongside giving stipends to poor students in northern districts. Later, the schemes will be expanded to other parts of the country.”

Shuvosangho’s Sariakandi unit president Sujit Sagar presided over the programme which was attended by local mayor Matiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sariakandi Police Station Rajesh Kumar Chakraborty, Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Kafi Mandal, Shuvosangho Director Zakaria Zaman, and its Vice-President Limon Bashar.

Speaking on the occasion, Matiur Rahman said the Bashundhara Group deserves appreciation for standing beside the backward sections of people of char area at Sariakandi upazila. The erosion of Jamuna and Bangali rivers takes a heavy toll on lives and properties.”

He demanded establishment of a secondary school in the remote char area to facilitate education of the children therein.

Hailing the initiative of Bashundhara Group, OC Rajesh Kumar Chakraborty said people hard-hit by river erosion and natural calamity will really benefit from the training centre, school and library.

Meanwhile, the recipients of training and sewing machines expressed joy and gratitude to Bashundhara Group to have stood beside them.

Tamanna-e-Akter, a recipient of sewing machine, said the support of Bashundhara Group to erosion-hit people is beyond imagination and praiseworthy. She hoped that other insolvent women of the area will receive training and sewing machines.

Bedena Akter is yet to be married for being speech-impaired. Aged 25, Bedena seems to be a burden for her poor parents. She is happy with training and sewing machines which will enable her to be self-reliant.

Another trainee, Sakila Begum claimed to have got married when she was a ninth grader. The marriage was aimed at reducing burden of parents. Situation aggravated further as illiteracy and poverty were her constant companions. Her husband came to Dhaka for a job but found himself trapped in the vicious cycle of debt. The elder daughter of Sakila Begum is now a sixth grader while her son is one year old. Her husband cultivates some lands of others and the family somehow keeps body and soul together. With a hope of being solvent, she received training. Getting the sewing machines, her joy knew no bounds.

In 1993, family of Sahena Begum was uprooted from homestead due to erosion of Jamuna River. The family shifted to an embankment shelter. Her husband initiated clothe business borrowing money from others but he died. The extreme poverty blocked education of her only son. But, training and sewing machines have aroused hope for solvency in her mind.

Mukti Akter, a student of higher secondary level, had fell into suffering since separation of her parents when she was just five years old. She took shelter at the house of her grandfather who is now sick and bedridden. Finding no way out, she received training. The joy of getting a sewing machine beggars description.

SOURCE : Daily Sun