Bashundhara Group support helps 20 women become self-reliant

Our vehicle left Bandarban town for Rowangchhari in the morning. We had heard that the journey would take no more than an hour.

The sewing machines had arrived a day earlier. We, the Bashundhara Shuvosangho team, were heading to Rowangchhari to hand them over to disadvantaged women.

The road was far more remote and challenging than we had imagined. Our vehicle climbed steep, winding hill roads, and at several points it seemed as if it might stop and fail to move any further.

Overcoming all the difficulties, we reached the Rowangchhari upazila auditorium on time. As we entered, the women greeted us in unison, saying, “Hrikhho bhaiya” — a traditional greeting.

All 20 women who received the sewing machines belong to ethnic minority communities. They had completed sewing training through Bashundhara Shuvosangho with the hope of taking another step towards self-reliance.

They came to collect the sewing machines gifted by Bashundhara Group and use them to create income opportunities for themselves and support their families.

Bashundhara Shuvosangho recently distributed sewing machines among disadvantaged women in the remote Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban to create new opportunities for self-employment.

At a ceremony at the upazila auditorium, Bandarban district Bashundhara Shuvosangho President U Wai Sing Marma presided over the event. Rowangchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir and Rowangchhari Press Club General Secretary Sathowa Marma attended the programme.

“Our family struggles financially. With this sewing machine, I can work with my own hands and contribute to my family,” said Sumona Tanchangya of Shukno Jhiri Para in the Tanchangya language.

Sumona is one of four sisters. Her father, Kandra Tanchangya, supports the family through farming. Unable to complete her studies because of financial hardship, she has been helping her father with agricultural work.

She said the sewing machine from Bashundhara Group would open a new door of opportunity in her life.

Mechaong Marma also expressed a similar hope. A resident of Rowangchhari Para, she is pursuing a master’s degree in the Pali Department at Chattogram College.

Her father, Kroithowai Marma, used to work in agriculture but has fallen ill, leaving the family with almost no income. As a result, meeting her educational expenses has become difficult.

She now hopes to cover her study costs by earning through sewing.

Rowangchhari Police Station OC Humayun Kabir praised Bashundhara Group’s initiative to make disadvantaged women self-reliant through Bashundhara Shuvosangho.

“The organisation is creating opportunities for self-employment by providing disadvantaged women with sewing machines after three months of sewing training,” he said.

“By earning an income, these women will be able to play an important role in improving their families’ financial condition. I sincerely thank Bashundhara Group for this humanitarian and welfare-oriented initiative and hope it will continue such programmes in the future,” he added.

Rowangchhari Press Club General Secretary Sathowa Marma said the initiative was both commendable and timely.

“Through this programme, disadvantaged women will have opportunities for self-employment and improve their living standards. On behalf of the people of Rowangchhari, I sincerely thank Bashundhara Group and Bashundhara Shuvosangho for this humanitarian initiative,” he said.

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“I hope Bashundhara will continue working for the welfare of people in the same way in the future,” he added.

Members of the Rowangchhari upazila unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho said all 20 women who received sewing machines belonged to ethnic minority communities.

They said the machines gifted by Bashundhara Group would help bring positive changes to the women’s lives.

The recent floods caused extensive damage in the area, leaving many family members unemployed. Bashundhara Group and Bashundhara Shuvosangho have stood beside them during this difficult time, setting an example through their humanitarian initiative.