Women get tools for changing their fate

When extreme heat has disrupted life, smiles of happiness are conspicuous on the faces of disadvantaged women in Natore. Bashundhara Group, the country's largest industrial conglomerate, has brought smiles to their faces.

Bashundhara Group has handed over sewing machines to these women at the conclusion of a five-month sewing training course imparted to them at the initiative of Bashundhara Shuvosangho. To them, it seems to be a tool for changing their fate. Aiming to make them self-reliant, the sewing machines were handed over to 40 insolvent women as tools in their struggle for life in Natore Sadar and Lalpur upazilas on 27 and 28 April 2004.

Heroic freedom fighter Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, a lawmaker elected from Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara) constituency, distributed the sewing machines in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Masudur Rahman and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shariful Islam Sharif.

On the first day, on 27 April, 20 sewing machines were handed over to the underprivileged women on the premises of Natore Swapnakoli School. Presided over by Bashundhara Shuvosangho Natore District Unit President Mostafizur Rahman Saikot, the sewing machine distribution ceremony was attended by Rezaul Karim Reza, Md Mamun, Sharif Mahdi Ashraf Jibon, Abir Khan, Yasir Arafat Rafi, and Nasim Uddin Nasim, besides Masudur Rahman and Shariful Islam Sharif.

The entire programme was moderated by Bashundhara Shuvosangho Natore District Unit General Secretary Susmoy Das Tanoy. On the conclusion of the sewing machine distribution ceremony, attending guests visited an exhibition spot where dresses made by the trained women were put on display. The visiting guests highly praised the work of the dress-making women.

Natore ADC Masudur Rahman said that financially insolvent women will be able to attain autarchy by getting sewing machines and utilising their training. “Sewing machines were handed over to the hapless women for free. With the earnings, their family requirements will be met to some extent,” he said. Beauty Begum, a beneficiary in Natore’s Chakbiadynath area, said that her husband’s income cannot meet the family's needs. Along with her children, she passes her days in hardship. So, she has enlisted her name at the Bashundhara Shuvosangho Sewing Training Centre to learn the art of sewing. Now, she hopes to earn money making dresses with the sewing machine.

Bashundhara distributes sewing machines free of cost among 20 needy women in Deborpara village under Natore Sadar Upazila

Shahida Begum and Tania Khatun echoed in a similar manner. They said that they are indebted to Bashundhara Group, which has done much for them. They stated further that they will be able to mitigate their family sufferings by well-utilising the sewing machines. May Almighty Allah bless the Bashundhara Group!

On the second day on 28 April, Bashundhara Group, the country's largest business conglomerate, distributed sewing machines among 20 poverty-stricken women at Lalpur in Natore. Sewing machines were formally handed over to widows and women abandoned by their husbands, as well as ill-fated women of Deborpara Budhirampur village, under the same upazila, for free.

The sewing machine handover ceremony was held on the campus of the school founded by Bashundhara Shuvosangho. Chaired by Bashundhara Shuvosangho President Jalal Uddin Babu, also the Coordinator of Bashundhara Shuvosangho School, the sewing machine distribution ceremony was attended by Natore-1 lawmaker Advocate Abul Kalam Azad as the chief guest.
Addressing the programme, Abul Kalam Azad said Bashundhara Group has set a good example through its countrywide social and humanitarian activities.

“A training programme for impoverished women is organised for free with sewing machines to change the fate of people building Sheikh Hasina’s Smart Bangladesh vision,” he said.
This is undoubtedly a praiseworthy initiative. Because of the noble initiative, women are standing on their own feet resulting in self-sustenance. Alongside, my all-out cooperation with these unfortunate women will continue in the future. I convey my heartfelt thanks to Bashundhara Group for taking the noble initiative.”

Lalpur Sadar Union Parishad (UP) member Abu Bakar Siddique said, “I am delighted to learn that such work is going on in my area. Bashundhara Shuvosangho has founded a pre-primary school where there is no primary school in close proximity. Now, local children are getting an opportunity for education. Alongside, the wretched women will, of course, attain self-sufficiency by getting sewing machines. Among others, Upazila Women Affairs Officer Shahina Sultana, Lalpur UP Chairman Abu Bakar Siddique Palash, Mazar Sharif TBM College Principal, and Lalpur Correspondent of Dainik Azad Imam Hasan Mukti spoke on the occasion.

Shirina Khatun, 38, an inhabitant of Balitita Islampur village under Lalpur union who also got a sewing machine as her gift, said, “I am a widow. I have two children. After the death of my husband, I am passing my days in poverty. I have received sewing training to make a living. Now, I shall be able to educate my children with the money that I shall earn by sewing clothes. I am ever-grateful to Bashundhara Group.”
Expressing her gratitude to Bashundhara Group, Monira Begum, 40, another woman who also got a sewing machine, said, “I bear the expense of the education of my children and that of my family with the money that I earn doing work as a day labourer.

Observing my plight, Bashundhara Shuvosangho has come forward by providing me with an opportunity to learn sewing, and today I got the sewing machine. I feel well, as I shall be able to assist my family to some extent by utilising the machine. I will be able to provide my children with a proper education.
So, I shall remain ever-grateful to Bashundhara Group. Alongside, lots of impoverished women have found a ray of light from darkness through the attainment of self-dependence by learning the art of sewing.

SOURCE : Daily Sun