Hasna
Begum has her own factory where almost 200 women have become self-reliant working
there. Hasna Begum has also trained them. But there was a time when she used to
work in other’s factory for taka 450 as salary per month.
What
factory does Hasna Begum have? She said, “Mainly I have garments factory.
Three-piece, Panjabee, silk-woven saree etc. are made here. I also do
handicraft on saree and make cushion cover and different types of show piece
made by cloth.” She takes products from her factory named MPK Fabrics to fairs
organized at home and abroad. Alongside, she has built a factory for making poultry
food.
Hasna
Begum’s house is in BSCIC area of Rajshahi city. Her husband’s name is Rezaul
Ahsan. They have four children. Eldest son has become graduate. Two daughters
are studying in polytechnic institute while the youngest son studies in class
six. Hasna Begum studied till class ten. She got married in 1985. Before
marriage, she used to work at other’s factory in BSCIC area for a monthly wage
of taka 450. Joining her husband’s family after marriage, she started dreaming
of building a factory using her past working experience.
Hasna
Begum revealed, she took training from the Department of Women Affairs in 1990.
“With the help of my husband, I started the business with 60,000 taka. At
first, there were four hand-loom machines. I took part in a local trade fair
and noticed that there was demand for our products. Afterwards, my interest got
increased”, said Hasna Begum.
Her
husband had a small land in Rajshahi city. They did not have the ability to
utilize this land. Having gathered some courage, Hasna sold the land and bought
four engine-run loom machines. Since then, the scope of her business began
expanding.
In
2006, Hasna Begum through the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries took
part in a trade fair organized in Kolkata. But, she did not get response as
expected. Yet, Hasna was not disappointed. She registered an association named
ARC in Export Promotion Bureau after coming back to the country. Since then,
Hasna began to take part in different fairs organized abroad every year. She
already participated in trade fairs organized in Nepal, and in several states
of India including Kolkata, Assam and Gauhati.
Hasna Begum has no time to take rest. She herself has opened a training institute. She provides training to poor women. Every year, 130 women take training in handcraft from this training center. She provides these trained women yarn and fabric. They do work from home on sarees and cushion covers and make different types of show pieces before delivering them to Hasna Begum. Now, 15 women are working in her factory as employee. Besides, 40 women work for her staying at home. According to her estimate, at least 200 women have become self-reliant.
In
2014, Hasna Begom received government’s ‘Joyeeta’ award in Rajshahi division
level.
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