DHAKA, June 02, 2024 (BSS) - In the field of women empowerment, Bangladesh is advancing notably as women themselves are prone to enabling to have control over their lives and equal access to resources and opportunities.
 
Poly Khatun, a transgender of Rajshahi city, has created an environment where she can participate in society and the economy on an equal footing with men. Being a transgender she had to overcome many obstacles and ultimately succeeded in changing her fate. Her hard work and will-power have created a world for herself where she can live her life.
 
Poly started her 'DA Fashion House' at her own house in Mollapara in the city in 2016. In the beginning, her capital was only Taka eight thousands. And, currently her income is about one lakh per month.
 
She started her business along with other 25 transgenders while more than four hundred transgenders and marginal level women are working under Poly's supervision now. They are making different types of hand-made sarees, three-pieces, bed sheets and cushion covers and the products are being sold at different places of the country. Even, those products are being sold abroad.
 
Poly's path to self-employment was rugged as people are around her were not cooperative, rather they were found with conservative outlook. "But I have been always positive and tried to start anything through my honesty and hard-work," she added.
 
Now, Poly is a role model of encouragement before the transgenders and women. She received 'Joyeeta Award' in 2017 in recognition to her works. She also achieved 'Joy Bangla Youth Award' in 2021 for her works in developing the socio-economic condition of the transgenders. Besides, she has a lot of other achievements.
 
She is now busy with her business and other social development works. She also works on preventing AIDS in Rajshahi. She works on development of the livelihood of transgenders and making them self-dependent through establishing an organization 'Diner Alo Hizra Sangha'.
 
She also gives trainings on boutiques to local women and transgenders. Many women and transgenders become self-dependent through Poly and even many women see new dream of living.
 
The beginning of her life was very painful and she fought constantly to live. She is elder among her three brothers and sisters. Everyone understood her gender identity just after her birth. Her father not only denied her (Poly), he also denied her mother to accept. Finally, her father accepted them. But he carried out repression on Poly and her mother all the time. Even, she didn't get any new dress in any festival like Eid though her other siblings got new dresses.
 
She passed SSC in 2012 though her educational life was not so easy. Even, her father didn't pay any penny to run her education. Her mother used to pay to run her education.
 
 A local organization 'Bandhu Social Welfare Society' stood beside her in 2015 and gave trainings and financial assistant which instilled a new life in her. After the training, Poly started business with Taka eight thousand as capital. Poly gradually expanded her business through her skill and dedication.
 
She said, "I make designs by my-self on sarees and three-pieces. I also do the works of boutiques on those sarees and three-pieces. In the beginning, I sold my products at local markets. Later, the range of my business has increased gradually. And now, we are making 700 three-pieces and 50-piece sarees from my fashion house in every month. Every three-piece is being sold at Taka 2500 to Taka 3000, one piece sold at Taka 700 to 1000 and two-piece is being sold at Taka 1500 to Taka 2200. Every piece saree is being sold at Taka 2500 to 3500. And now my monthly income is about Taka 1.5 lakh."
 
Poly's journey sets an example that women can have the power and freedom to live their lives without discrimination or limitations based on gender.