40 Women in Bandarban Receive Sewing Machines to Build Self-Reliance

Life is far from easy for people living in the remote hill communities of Bandarban, where difficult transportation, limited employment opportunities, and dependence on agriculture create persistent economic challenges. For many families in the indigenous communities, jum cultivation remains a major source of income. However, income that depends heavily on weather and market conditions often makes it difficult to meet household expenses throughout the year.

Women and students are among those who face the greatest impact of these financial constraints. While many of them are eager to learn skills and earn an income, opportunities for employment and self-employment remain limited.

Against this backdrop, Bashundhara Shuvo Sangho has taken an initiative to support women in building their livelihoods. Under the initiative, 40 financially disadvantaged women from Alikadam and Bandarban Sadar upazilas received three months of free sewing training. After completing the training, each participant was provided with a sewing machine.

The initiative aims to help the women turn their newly acquired skills into income-generating opportunities and contribute to their families.

Sewing machines were distributed at separate events held recently at the Alikadam and Bandarban Sadar Upazila Parishad halls. Among those present were Alikadam Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Sohel Rana, Officer-in-Charge of Bandarban Sadar Police Station Md Shahed Parvez, Bandarban District Press Club President Aminul Haque Bachchu, Bashundhara Shuvo Sangho Director Zakaria Zaman, and representatives of the local administration, media and social organizations.

Chammum Wants to Become Self-Reliant Alongside Her Studies
Chammum Mro, from Maranpara in Alikadam, has grown up facing financial difficulties. One of 11 siblings, she is currently a Class XII student at Alikadam College.

Her father, Rengkai Mro, depends on jum cultivation to support the large family. Meeting the daily needs of so many family members with a limited agricultural income is a constant challenge.

From an early age, Chammum witnessed the financial struggles of her family. She wanted to continue her education while becoming financially independent, but limited family resources meant that she had to depend on her family even for some of her personal expenses.

The sewing training has given her an opportunity to develop a practical skill. Along with the training, she received a sewing machine from Bashundhara Group.

Chammum said the sewing machine would allow her to earn alongside her studies, meet some of her own expenses and contribute to her family.

To her, the machine is more than a piece of equipment—it is an opportunity to build her future.

Laizu Akter, a Class XII student at Lama College from Nayapara village in Alikadam, has also faced financial hardship.

Around 13 years ago, her father suffered a stroke and became paralysed. Since then, the family's financial situation has become increasingly difficult. With her father's regular income gone, her elder sisters have taken on much of the family's responsibility.

Laizu continues her education with support from her sisters. At the same time, she gives private tuition to cover some of her own expenses.

She later received an opportunity to undergo sewing training. After completing the three-month course, she received a sewing machine.

Now, she plans to combine tutoring with sewing work to generate additional income. She hopes that her earnings will help reduce some of the financial pressure on her family while allowing her to continue her studies.

Masingching Dreams of Supporting Her Family
Masingching Marma from Rening Para in Bandarban Sadar is another beneficiary of the initiative. A Class X student at Lotus Shishu Sadan Residential High School, she is the daughter of Thoaichingnu Marma, who works as an office assistant at a primary school.

With a limited family income, continuing education is a challenge. Masingching therefore wanted to learn a practical skill alongside her studies.

After completing the sewing training, she now has her own sewing machine. She hopes to use it to earn an income in the future, help with her educational expenses, and support her family.

Meseinu Marma, a fourth-year honours student in the History Department at Bandarban Government College, has also experienced significant hardship. Her mother died several years ago, while her father, Sabai U Marma, supports the family through agricultural work.

Meseinu's education depends largely on her father's limited income. The family's financial circumstances have made her think seriously about becoming economically independent.

She considers the sewing training an important opportunity. After receiving the machine, she now plans to use her skills to earn alongside her studies and reduce some of her father's financial burden.

Shyamoli Tanchangya, a second-year undergraduate student at Bandarban Government College, is another beneficiary.

Her father, Kadam Tanchangya, has a limited income, while the family also depends partly on the earnings of her brother, who works for an NGO.

Despite these financial challenges, Shyamoli continues her education and hopes to share the family's responsibilities through her own income in the future.

She believes the sewing training and machine have created a practical path toward achieving that goal.

According to those involved in the initiative, simply distributing sewing machines may not always ensure that beneficiaries can use them effectively in the long term. Therefore, the women were provided with three months of training before receiving the machines.

Through the training, participants learned basic sewing techniques and gained practical experience in operating the machines.

Organizers said women in remote areas often face limited employment opportunities because of low household income, lack of jobs, and family responsibilities. Providing both practical skills and the necessary equipment can make it easier for them to establish small-scale self-employment opportunities.

Alikadam Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Sohel Rana said the initiative was timely for empowering women in remote communities. He said sewing training and equipment could create opportunities for self-employment and help women move toward greater economic independence.

Bandarban Sadar Police Station OC Md Shahed Parvez also praised the initiative, saying free training and sewing machines could help women in remote areas become more self-reliant.

Bandarban District Press Club President Aminul Haque Bachchu said providing training before distributing the machines was particularly important. According to him, the beneficiaries now have the skills required to use the machines, making them potentially useful tools for long-term self-employment.

Bashundhara Shuvo Sangho Bandarban District Branch President Uwai Sing Marma said many women in the hill regions face various limitations that prevent them from accessing employment opportunities. Developing their skills could bring positive changes to families and communities, he said.

A significant number of the 40 beneficiaries belong to indigenous communities, while the group also includes school, college and university students.

Their circumstances vary. Some come from families dependent on jum cultivation or farming, while others face financial difficulties because of illness or limited household income.

Yet their aspirations are similar—to continue their education, meet some of their personal needs through their own earnings and, when possible, contribute to their families.

For Chammum, Laizu, Masingching, Meseinu and Shyamoli, the sewing machines represent more than gifts. For some, they are a means of continuing education; for others, an opportunity to support their families; and for many, a first step toward building an independent future.

In the challenging environment of the hills, the distribution of sewing machines to these 40 women has opened a new door of opportunity. How far they can go by turning their skills into sustainable income will depend on time and opportunity—but their journey toward self-reliance has already begun.