Photo : BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, July 2, 2025 (BSS) - Defying unemployment and social stigma, Hasibur Rahman Emon, a 27-year-old educated youth from Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila, has turned his life around by building a successful online-based fish business that is not only changing his fate but also creating jobs for others.

Emon, now a resident of the Tutpara area in Khulna city, comes from a humble background. After completing a Computer Diploma from Khulna Polytechnic Institute, he wandered from place to place in search of a job.

Eventually, he made a bold decision to create his own path to livelihood - choosing fish selling as a profession, something few educated youths dare to consider.

But Emon didn't hesitate. Instead, he approached the trade with vision and intelligence, transforming it into a modern, tech-driven enterprise.

In 2022, he founded grammosundarban.com, an online-based 'ready-to-cook' fish delivery business.

Emon sources locally farmed native fish from ponds and enclosures in Khulna, cleans and processes them for cooking, and delivers them to customers in Dhaka and other districts across the country.

Talking to BSS on Tuesday, Emon said he sells over 40 species of fish daily through online orders and wholesale channels.

Through this initiative, he has not only fulfilled his own dream but also created employment opportunities for 20 individuals including female workers. 

"Deshi fish is not only healthy but also in high demand in international markets. I want grammosundarban.com to become a national brand one day," he said.

Behind Emon's success lies the support of the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP) of Nabolok Parishad, implemented with assistance from Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), and DANIDA.

Poly Rani Mondal, a project officer at Nabolok, said, "We aim to develop local entrepreneurs who understand the market, use technology, and build public trust. Emon's story is a clear example of that vision."

Masum Hasan, a local agro-fish trader, said entrepreneurs like Emon are transforming rural economies. "When a venture creates jobs, it becomes a social movement. Emon has proved that no profession is small - it's the mindset that matters," he said.

Jahangir Alam, Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries, Khulna Division, said over three lakh youths in the region have become self-reliant through involvement in fish farming and trading. 

He added that online fish trading is growing in popularity among educated youths, particularly in coastal areas where fish cultivation is the primary livelihood.

"Every day, around 1,000 to 1,500 trucks of live fish are supplied to various districts from the division," he said.