After losing her husband, Julekha Akter, a resident of Shibpur upazila in Narsingdi, found herself grappling with the harsh realities of life while raising three children on her own.

With no other earning member in the family, meeting basic household needs, putting food on the table, and covering her children’s educational expenses became an overwhelming challenge.

However, a sewing machine has now brought a ray of hope into her life. After completing a three-month free sewing training programme organised by Bashundhara Shuvosangho, Julekha now envisions a future of self-reliance, earning a livelihood through the skills she has acquired and the sewing machine she received.

Like Julekha, 30 underprivileged women from different unions of Shibpur upazila received sewing machines after completing the training programme.

The country’s leading industrial conglomerate, Bashundhara Group, distributed the sewing machines among the trainees at a programme organised by its social organisation, Bashundhara Shuvosangho, at the Shibpur Upazila Auditorium on Saturday.

The programme was chaired by Mahbubur Rahman Monir, central adviser to Bashundhara Shuvosangho. The chief guest was Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur) MP Monjur Elahi. Ekushey Padak-winning writer and Bashundhara Group adviser Imdadul Haq Milan inaugurated the event.

Narsingdi Zila Parishad Administration valiant freedom fighter Tofazzal Hossain Master, Shibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Yasmin, Shibpur upazila unit BNP President valiant freedom fighter Abul Haris Rikabdar, and Shibpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kohinur Mia attended the programme, among others.

The trainees also received certificates, fruit and medicinal plant saplings, and books along with the sewing machines.

Expressing her joy, beneficiary Sanjida Akter said, “I come from a low-income family. Through this training, we have become skilled in sewing. Now that we have received sewing machines, we will be able to earn an income and become self-reliant. We can also contribute to supporting our families. I am grateful to Bashundhara Group and everyone involved, and I pray for their good health and long life.”

Mahbubur Rahman Monir said the initiative was undertaken to empower disadvantaged women by providing them with skills and opportunities for self-employment. The sewing machines would help them engage in income-generating activities, he said.

Imdadul Haq Milan said that, with the support of Bashundhara Group, Bashundhara Shuvosangho has been working for several years to promote the sustainable development of rural underprivileged women.

As part of that ongoing effort, women in Shibpur were trained and provided with sewing machines to help them create their own employment opportunities, he said.

Milan noted that humanitarian activities are being carried out across the country under the guidance of the chairman of Bashundhara Group and would continue in the future.

“When women become self-reliant, both families and society move forward. That is why sewing machines are being provided alongside skills training. In addition, two saplings have been distributed to each beneficiary as part of environmental protection efforts,” he added.

Describing the initiative as a shining example of humanity, MP Monjur Elahi said that through these sewing machines, women would be able to earn an income and play a greater role in supporting their families.

He also called for the continuation of such humanitarian initiatives by Bashundhara Group in Shibpur in the future.