DHAKA, May 31, 2024 (BSS) - Rokeya Parvin Sumona used to live at Rajshahi city. She knows how to do struggle as she saw her mother for fighting to livelihood. She also has changed her life through struggle and also changing the life of hundreds of women of the city providing trainings.

Sumona said, "I was born in Rajshahi city and grew up there. The city is free from pollution and also free from traffic congestions. I'm providing trainings on different products to women of the city as they can become self-dependant."

 Specially, Sumona is giving trainings on jute products. Not only Rajshahi, she is also giving the trainings for increasing skill of women at different areas across the country.

She said the training on jute is to moving ahead the women of Rajshahi area as they can build themselves as entrepreneur in the society and create an identity for them.

 "I had a wish for long that I will provide trainings to the women of Rajshahi city. Many people knew my father late Md Lutful Bari. But no one knew me as hi daughter. I want to back the identity. Later, I opened a training center in Rajshahi. And now, many women are becoming self-defendant through taking trainings. It is really a matter of pride and happiness for me," she added.

Sumona said, "I also hear many stories of those women who are taking trainings from my center about their struggles. Their struggles for livelihood encouraged me. I really enjoy it."

She said women can laugh even they are in problems and they always try to keep good to their family. Now many women are becoming self-dependant and take the responsibilities of their families and "I feel proud for them," she added.

The name of the training center is 'Protisthan Boichithra'. The organization gains popularity among women of all ages of the city and most trainees are students. Many service holders' women are also taking trainings from the centre.

Mohatamima Jahan, one of the trainees, said, "I've received trainings from the centre on making products from jute. I'm selling the products through a facebook page named 'Bichithra Ponnyo'. My investment was only Taka 10,000 when I started my business in 2020. Now my income from the products is increasing gradually."

Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS) is working to empower women and economic development for them. They are also running their activities in Rajshahi also. The organization has taken different programmes to make the jute products popular among the women of Rajshahi.