A bit success of Nari Jibon- Asma Akter

Written by M.G. Rabbany

I am Asma Akter, aged 16. Now I am running a home based tailoring business and recently I have started Tailoring training centre at my house. I can make various designs three pieces, pillow covers, window covers, blouse, petty coat, fotua Panjabi, various kinds of kids’ dresses, male shirts and shorts etc. I can also teach sewing and cutting clothes to make above mentioned dresses. At present I am teaching 5 students. Actually my present students are my neighboring girls and I also receive dress making order from my neighboring people. But sometimes my elder sister’s friends give me some order making their dress. Day by day my earning of my business is increasing and now I can earn 500 taka 1000 taka every month. I faced problem to run my business and training centre as I have to work in our bed room. In future I’ll try to rent a shop for running my tailoring business and training centre, though I am also thinking to study for academic study. I had to stop my study due to couple reasons.

Asma Akter is working at her home based tailoring business

Asma is teaching her students at her house

I have two elder sisters, one brother and one younger brother. We were living happily. When I was reading in class-5 my parents gave in marriage my eldest sister arranging a large ceremony. My father was a business man. He used to run Rickshaw business and he had nine Rickshaws. Then we were living in a renting house. My father had to spend a lot of money. Almost same time some Rickshaws were stolen and my father faced serious problem. My father had to spend lot of money for the seeking Rickshaws. Serious financial problem was arisen in our family. My mother was mere a housewife. Then my elder sister Taslima and I gave up going to school though my elder brother continued his study for a while. My father came from Bikrampur but there he had no wealth except little homestead. My elder sister was given marriage in same village. Then our financial condition was so worse that my parents had not way to live in Dhaka. My maternal grand parents had a house in Dhaka. Then my parents took shelter to them and my father started to run his business seriously.
After stopping my study I was passing my time in our house lazily. I had no task to do. One day a field worker of Nari Jibon named Ruma Akter came to visit our house and explain about Nari Jibon activities. Then I became agreed to visit Nari Jibon office and taking tailoring skill. In 28 April 2005 I went to visit Nari Jibon office and I took admission at Nari Jibon office. I participated more than 2 months in English-1 classes but as I did not understand well English I quitted attending English class. But I continued to take tailoring course. Then I planed to set home based tailoring business. Within 6 months I completed tailoring course successfully. In this long period I practiced to make tailoring items. After completing my tailoring course my father bought a new sewing machine for me to run home based tailoring business. After that I am running home based tailoring business and I am earning some money.

Now our financial condition is better than before. My father is doing same Rickshaw business and now he has ten Rickshaws. My father also set up a shop of hardware (rickshaw parts) in our area. My elder brother runs this business. Now I can earn some money. My elder sister took computer skills from Nari Jibon and now she has taken admission in Open University for academic certificate. I am also thinking to study more.

A Stranger came beside my window!!!

Pictures taken & written by: Mohtarimun Nahar [BIPA]

Hello readers, I would like to share a funny moment of my life with you. One day (24th August, 07) I was working at office. Beside my window there is a roof of another building. Suddenly I found that a monkey was sitting on the roof.

It was a strange feeling to me. I have never seen a monkey in such a close way. I saw in the zoo before in a case. That’s why I tried to call him to take some photos of him but he didn’t listen to me. Then I gave him some biscuits and chanachur. After that he thought for a moment and came near my window. At that time I took some pictures of him.

He stayed for 30 minutes. After that he left the roof. But I couldn’t know how did he come here and where did he go? It is not possible to know where he lives. So, he is been a stranger to me.

Some people show different street games with monkey. This monkey maybe that type of performer. Or he can be a member of circus party. Maybe he had lost his way to go home or maybe he left his home. I will never able to know these questions’ answers.

My life –Nila Sultana

Written by: M.G. Rabbany,
E-Mail: grabbany@gmail.com

I am Nila Sultana aged 22. I was born in 1984 at Khulna where my birth family used to live and my father’s workplace. My father used to work in a Jute Mill at Khulna as a labor but my father was the inhabitants of Faridpur district where he had only homestead and a small house. I used to visit our village with my parents during EID vacation or when my maternal grandfather used invite to visit there. My mother was a housewife. I went to the school several years in govt. primary school at Khulna. I have two elder brothers, one elder sister and one younger brother. My elder sister got married and now she is living with her husband and my two elder brothers are living separately with their respective families. Both of my elder brothers are Rickshaw pullers and they pull Rickshaw in the Dhaka city.

Nila Sultana

In 1993 (approximately), the Jute Mill at Khulna stopped where my father used to work and then my father became unemployed. Finding no other alternative way my parents came to Dhaka 1993 (approximately). Then my father worked as mason and later he worked as gateman in a house long days. Now my father can not work and he is now weak and aged. Then my mother also started to work in a garment factory and she worked about one year. She gave up working in the garment factory due to her sickness.

Now my younger brother, I and my parents live together. My younger brother is taking car training in a training centre. My father can not work as he is sick and aged. My mother looks after my son.
I was given in marriage with a young boy named Alal in 2001 June who lived in same area in Dhaka. Then I was only 16 or 17 years old. My husband used to pull Rickshaw and he came from Pabna district. My husband studied up to class-9 and he was smart. Other member of low’s family lived in the village. He did not want to work as a Rickshaw puller but he could not collect another work. After getting married my husband rented a house but he could not bear the expenditure of our small family as he was lazy and he did not work regular.

Sometimes my parents helped us giving some money. Due to want of money we had quarrel often. In the meantime I became pregnant. On an occasion I left his house and I came to my parent’s house. Then my husband also left me. In the meantime I gave birth to a male child at the end of 2003. After leaving my husband my parents used to look after me and my son. But the financial situation of my parents was not well. Then I faced serious problem. I had to suffer in scarcity of money. My father became sick and my younger brother was unemployed. Usually the members of my family were not happy with me. Then I tried to earn money and I started to work as a housemaid servant to the several houses. I used to work hard to earn some more money. But I did not receive more money to work hard as a housemaid. At the end I used to receive only Tk. 900 working three houses six times (13/14 hours) in a day. Then how much difficulties I faced and how much I tried hard to earn money I can not explain.

Then I introduced with a woman who knew me as she lived same area and she knew my situation. Her name is Kohinoor aged near 30. She told me about Nari Jibon organization and she offered to meet with Nari Jibon chairman. Kohinoor was a student of Nari Jibon organization. I visited Nari Jibon office with Kohinoor and I was appreciated with its activities. Then I was interested to learn Bangla and tailoring course from Nari Jibon as then I dreamt to set up a home based tailoring business. But it was impossible to me to learn tailoring instead of earning money. Then I informed my present situation and problems to the Chairman of Nari Jibon. I think, she is a great woman in this world and I have not seen ever in my life like her. She offered me a great opportunity to learn tailoring and succeed my dream. I took admission at Nari Jibon in 10th July 2006. I got scope to work as a LPC (write, read and job). I used to receive Tk. 3700 per month instead of learning skills at Nari Jibon. I started to learn Bangla and Tailoring together. As I had to stay whole day in the office I got scope more time to learn Bangla and Tailoring course. Then I used to become tension free to maintain my family. My parents and other members of my family became happy and behaved very soft. Then my husband also started to come to my son and he started to solve problems between us. He often used to come to my son with some remittance for son. Then he took job in a company as A Sales Man. I got scope to learn Bangla and Tailoring course more than six months. In the meantime I completed Bangla and Tailoring course successfully. I have also participated in business management class. At the end of my course I applied to the Nari Jibon authority to help setting up home based tailoring business.

After completing my course I practiced several weeks to make dresses and sometimes I made dresses collecting order from out side. I learned 34 tailoring items to make. Especially I am able make various kinds of three pieces, petty coat, blouse, window cover, pillow cover, various kinds of kids’ dresses, Fotua (male, female), Panjabi and shorts etc well. After the end of my course Nari Jibon authority gave me a new sewing machine and some money as set up cost. After receiving sewing machine I set up and started to run home based tailoring business. Now my husband returned to me and we are living with my parents happily. My parents are also happy. Now we are thinking to rent a separate house but we are also thinking we need some more income if we rent a separate house. After discussing with my husband I joined in a garment factory at the beginning in this month (August, 07). I joined there as a helper and the employer gave me word that they would promote and increase my salary after three months. These three months I would receive 1250 taka as salary excluding overtime money. I hope within few months I will get promotion and receive high salary. I am also running my home based tailoring business and I can earn some money. After returning to my house I work in my home based tailoring business. In my absence my mother can take order which is plus point to me. I am very grateful to Nari Jibon for the contribution and changing my life. I have learned a lot of things from Nari Jibon office. I pray to Allah (God) may my madam (K.B. Ward) live long.

Jackfruit : The National Fruit of Bangladesh

Written by Taufqa Farzana

Hello readers. I am Taufiqa Farzana. The Jackfruit is a national fruit of Bangladesh. It is the largest fruit from all the fruits. I think Jackfruit is very famous to all. That’s why I would like to share with the readers whatever I know about this fruit.

Jackfruit is found all over in Bangladesh; but mainly in the month of Jaishtha and Ashar. It grows in plenty on the hilly areas of Chittagong and Sylhet and on the highland of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Comilla and Jessore. Beside these, it grows in India, Srilanka, Burma and Brazil. It has a rough and prickly skin. Inside the skin the fruit is found to be composed of many juicy flakes. When it becomes ripe, it turns out to be delicious and succulent to eat. It is also a very nutritious fruit. We get Vitamin ‘’A’’ and “C’’ from Jackfruit cell. We can also make jam, jelly, and juice by Jackfruit’s cell. The Jackfruit trees are very large. The leaves of Jackfruit trees are good food for cow and goat. From the stalk of Jackfruit trees we can make furniture. Jackfruit is in great demand with the common people. The price is comparatively cheap. Beside this, it can be served as a food. I like Jackfruit very much.

Memorable day of my life

Written by Kazi Rafiqul Islam

Few months ago, I went to my native village to see my sick mother. My mother was very much happy to see me. She forgot that she was sick. She was asking me about every body in Dhaka. I told her that all are ok over there. Then she again asked me what I would like to have for dinner. I told her that nothing special is needed for dinner. I then wanted to know from her whether she would like to have something like; fruits or anything. My mother told me that her heart is filled to see me. She needs nothing else.

Any way, I was going to nearby Bazaar to buy some fruits, fish and some other essential commodities. On the way to the bazaar I heard a voice behind me. Some one was calling me. I looked behind and saw an old man whose hair and beard were almost white. He looked like an old man of sixty. He asked me “Kemon acho Rafiq?” (How are you Rafiq?). I said, “Bhalo achi” (I am ok) and I also asked him, “Apni kemon achen?” (How are you?). He said ‘Bhalo’ (ok) in reply. And then he asked me, “Why I am calling him Apni (you).” Actually there is a difference between Apni and Tumi in Bengali; though it is same in English. In Bengali we use “Apni” for some one who are elder and “Tumi” for those who are younger. “Amare chinte paro nai?” (“Couldn’t you recognize me?” he said”). I said, “Na (no), I am sorry.” Then he told that his name is Selim. Still I could not recognize him. After that he told me that I must recognize him if he tell me a story of my childhood. I said, “Please tell me”. He told me, “Just try to remember we used to climb a Rain tree and jump down into the canal water.” Hearing it I remembered a terrific memory of my childhood and also could recognize him. I exclaimed with joy, “Oh my God! You are that Selim who saved my life?” He then said “khushi hoilam je tumi amare chinte percho. Ami tomare bachai nai. Allah tomare bachaiche”. (I am very glad to hear that you have recognized me. I did not save you. The almighty saved you.). I said “Please forgive me, I could not recognize you”. I also said “Shame on me, I forgot you who saved my life.” Then he said, “Eta hotei pare (it can be happen), onek din aager kotha (it was the event of many years ago).”

I remembered what happened that day. I, Selim (my play mate at my childhood) and some others (I can not remember their names) were playing a nice game. We were climbing a Rain tree (beside a canal, in front of our village house) and were jumping down from the high branch of the tree into the canal water. It was my turn, so I was about to jump. But suddenly Selim caught me tightly and said “Laph dis na, niche nouka” (Do not jump; there is a boat down in the canal). I did not see when a boat came under the tree, where we used to jump. I stopped jumping and looked down and was trembling in fear. If I would jump I must got injured seriously or die. Selim saved me from a great danger that day. I embraced him and thanked once again. I then asked him “What happened to you? You look like an old man.” He told me “It’s a long history, I will tell you about it sometimes later”. He told me “Let’s go to a tea stall, I will be happy to have tea with you”. We went to a tea stall and were having tea. At that time a young man of 20/25 years old came to him and said, “Baba (Father), some people are cutting our paddy; we must go to the field”. Then Selim told me “Rafiq kichu mone koris na, Amar ekhon dhan khete jawa dorkar, Ami pore toke shob bolbo (Rafiq never mind, I need to go to my paddy field. I will tell you my story later”. Ami bollam, “Accha jao, Allah Hafez” (I said, ‘ok’ go, God be with you). The next day he came to our house and told about his life. I will tell his story sometimes later.