DHAKA, Feb 2, 2024 (BSS) – Mohchhena Begum, 50, had to get married to an expatriate when she was a ninth-grade student. But, she saw her reflection in her daughter and wanted to make her offspring established with higher education.
 
Afroza Siddiqa, Mohchhena’s daughter who works as a freelancer, is also moving ahead with the inspiration of her mother overcoming all obstacles. Like other girls, she does not have to work from 9am to 5pm as she can work at whatever time she wants.
 
This is not enough! She also taught her mother about online-based work, and now both mother and daughter are freelancers. She not only earns by staying at home but also contributes to the family.
 
While talking to BSS at their residence in the capital’s Jatrabari, they opened the basket of reminiscences and shared their journey.
 
Afroza said her dream was to study at Dhaka University, but it could not happen. Later, she got enrolled in Tejgaon College to study sociology.
 
“Even though I was admitted to the college, I had an insistence on doing something myself. I thought, what could be done? Then, a friend suggested freelancing to me,” she added.
 
She continued, “In fact, I don’t do anything without informing my mother. This time was no exception. I discussed the issue with my mother, and she appreciated my dea.”
She went on, saying that at first she got enrollment at an outsourcing training centre in Jatrabari and then she joined another training centre in Dhanmondi. “My designing and freelancing basically started after that.”
Afroza is currently studying in the third year of the Sociology Department at Tejgaon College, and alongside that, her graphic design training is also going on. For this, she had to move regularly from Jatrabari to Dhanmondi.
 
Visiting the training centre, Afroza realized that it is not enough to just learn, as regular practice is necessary. The best way to do this is to learn it in class and teach it to someone else. It will help to do practice as well as someone can learn freelancing.
Thus, she started teaching her mother what she taught at the training centre and, in this way, they were both enriching themselves gradually.
 
April 2023 was very happy and memorable for Afroja. Because she got her first success in that month, as she received $150 for winning first place in a logo design contest on the website “DesignCrowd”. The next day, another of her logo designs was selected for a freelancer.com project, from which she earned 70 British pounds.
 
Afroza said, “Since April, my total income has become about 3,000 dollars. Now, I teach three more girls at home alongwith my mother. I am earning for myself and also providing training for others. It sounds great to me.”
 
 
Freelancer is an independent professional who wants to do something exceptional without being stuck in the confinement of a nine-to-five job. They can work from home or anywhere. And it requires only skills, electricity, and a fast internet connection.
 
In the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries of the world, costs get higher if local workers are hired. Sometimes, the requisite workforce is not available. So, they outsource the specific work. This process not only saves money for organisations and individuals, but also benefits freelancers as they can work from any place.
 
Freelance marketplaces are online platforms that connect businesses with freelancers who can provide services such as writing, editing, design, development, and marketing.
 
In Bangladesh, enthusiasm among youths regarding freelancing is increasing due to the expansion of information technology and various government and private initiatives.
 
Shah Imraul Qaish, Managing Director of TechnoBD, a software development company, said that freelancing started in the country in 2005–2006, and young people are the pioneers in the sector. “BASIS Outsourcing Award” introduced by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services has contributed to popularizing freelancing.
 
Mohchhena Begum believes that mothers should play a major role in the advancement of women in the country.
 
She said, “I couldn’t study beyond the ninth standard. So, I always wanted my daughter to do something, stand on her own feet. This is why I supported my daughter's wishes without listening to anyone. My daughter also helped me.”
 
In response to a question, she said, “I’ve learned some work from my daughter, and so far I’ve earned about 300 dollars."
 
She added, “I would tell every mother to support their daughter. Girls will be able to move forward only if they get our support.”
 
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Junaid Ahmed Palak, said that there are 650,000 freelancers in the country, and their total annual income is about $1 billion, or Taka 10,600 crore (Taka 106 per dollar). Since 2014, some 53,000 young people have been trained in various IT related subjects through the Learning and Earning project, he added.
 
However, Chairman of Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society, Tanjiba Rahman said that the number of 650,000 is counted by Upwork Marketplace. Some 153 marketplaces are operated in Bangladesh, and if the number is calculated overall, this figure will be about one million, of which 55 percent are between 20 and 35 years old, she added.
 
She observed that the participation of women in freelancing is still low and more priority should be given in this regard.
 
Tanjiba said that India is at the top in terms of freelancing, and Bangladesh secured a position after it, although Bangladesh ranks seventh in terms of income, while the United States is at the top.
 
Mentioning that smart cards have been given to about 30,000 freelancers since 2020, she said these cardholders will get bank loan facilities, and a 4 percent incentive is also being given if the income is brought in from outside through the bank.
 
Palak said that the government is taking various training initiatives, including setting up 31 specialized labs in various universities, to create a skilled workforce to face the competition of the upcoming fourth industrial revolution. “This activity will be strengthened in the future,” he added.