Sewing brings self-reliance for distressed women. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, March 17, 2025 (BSS) - Forty-two-year old Khaleda Begum suffered from typhoid when she was only two years old. Later, she became paralyzed.
 
She got married off at the age of only 13 and a student in fifth grade. Khaleda's first child died five days after birth. After that, many people called her 'Opoya' (unlucky). After the birth of her second child, her husband left her.
 
In this situation, she learned sewing to support the family and started working as a tailor. She also built a poultry firm. Now, Khaleda earns Taka 25,000 to 30,000 per month. She has also educated her son up to graduation with her own earnings.
 
By overcoming physical disabilities and uncertainty, Khaleda has not only become self-reliant, but has also changed the fate of many women. She is making helpless, disabled and distressed women self-reliant by providing sewing training.
 
Khaleda Begum is a resident of Dighirpar area of Shilaigara village in Barkhain union of Anwara upazila in Chittagong district.
 
She has a three-room tin shed. Khaleda lives in one room of the house with her mother Chenora and in another room with her son Nesarul Islam. The other room is where trainees are trained. Khaleda is seen doing sewing work in her house. Her mother Chenora Begum was helping her while she was working. The box in the house is filled with various
certificates of honor.
 
Khaleda Begum said, "After my husband left, I started fighting for my survival with my son Nesarul Islam. At one point, I was in despair, I didn't want to live. But I didn't back down. I took training in sewing and started working in the private sector."
 
"Along with sewing, I also started raising poultry. I became success, she said, adding, "My son Nesarul has now graduated and is working as an office assistant at Grameen Bank. I also earn Taka 25000 to 30,000 per month. All in all, I am self-reliant. I want to make more women, whom society considers a burden, self-reliant."
 
Khaleda Begum said, "Several government and private development organizations helped me survive and turn around. First, in 2006, I took sewing training from the non-governmental development organization Sangshptak. Then, I took training on poultry farming, cattle

farming, and sewing from the Department of Youth Development. In 2008, I received a sewing machine grant from Sangshptak and started working."
 
Khaleda Begum started providing sewing training through the Anwara Youth Development Department in 2009.
 

She said, "In 2009, I started providing sewing training to 30 people in the first batch. Now I am providing regular training. Even though I give them three hours of time daily, it takes a month for each batch to come out."
 
She said, "Youth Development provides honorarium during the training. Certificates are given after the training. At least 700 women have become self-reliant after receiving sewing training. All of them are buying machines themselves and continuing their sewing work. Many women with sewing training certificates are also working in KEPZ garments. Apart from this, I am personally teaching sewing to four people a month."
 
Khaleda Begum said, with the help of the government, I regularly provide sewing training to disabled and poor women. In 2016, the District Youth Development Department recognized me as a successful self-employed person. Earlier, in 2011, I received various awards from the Department of Social Services. In 2017, I received an honor as a successful woman in the Chittagong division of "Joyita Anneshane Bangladesh 2017."
 
Anwara Upazila Youth Development Officer Rezaul Karim Bhuiyan said Khaleda is now training us as a mobile trainer. She has a successful track record in all kinds of programs. She is spreading light in the society as a successful woman by overcoming obstacles."
 
Anwara UNO Tahmina Akhter said, "Khaleda is a good example of how disabled people can also play a role in the development of society if they get proper training and support."