DHAKA, May 18, 2025 (BSS) - Rokeya Parveen Sumana, a woman entrepreneur and cottage industry trainer, has learned from her mother how to struggle to survive in life. She is now transforming her own life through self initiatives side by side with changing living style of many girls in this city by providing training.

Sumana, recently, shared the story of her entrepreneurial journey. "I was born and brought up in Rajshahi city, a city free from noise pollution and traffic congestions. It's a clean and tidy city. I provide training to the women of the city on various trades so that they can live comfortably and become self-reliant".

She basically offer training on production of jute goods. She conducts training activities in different areas of the country side by side with Rajshahi region to develop the skills of women. After receiving the training, they are developing themselves as skilled and competent entrepreneurs.

Sumana said, "I always hear the stories of women's strenuous lives in training. I've heard from many how much a woman works in life to get an identity.

I heard from two women whose well structured family lives were broken. They had to leave their husbands' houses empty-handed. They struggled a lot to get back on their feet. At one point, they participated in one of our training and learned the process of making jute products".

"Now they are earning money by making various jute products and leading a good life. This makes me very happy and proud," she said.

Replying to a query on 'Who usually comes for training?' trainer and entrepreneur Sumana said, "Some are students, while others learn to make various jute goods along with their jobs. Many are abandoned by their husbands. They are struggling to survive a little and feed their children and daughters".

"When I look into their eyes, I see how helpless they are! These women look at me with many dreams. It feels good to be able to teach them something," she added.

Sumana said, "I try my best to make these women's dreams come true. Not only do I give them training, but I also try to strengthen their courage. They also love and respect me a lot".

Sufia Akhter of Mohanpur's Mougachi, Afia of Upshahar and Jharna Khatun of the city have received training from Sumana. Not only Jharna or Sufia, but hundreds of women in Rajshahi have turned their wheels of fortune around with small initiatives after receiving training on various trades including production of jute goods.

By the virtue of the struggle of life, they are becoming self-reliant and playing an important role in bringing prosperity to other families.

Jharna said, "My conjugal life didn't continue due to the lack of understanding with my husband. I moved to my father's house, but I was a burden in my poor father's family. Now I've turned my fortune around by making jute bags. I have also provided employment to three widowed women here".

Former president of Rajshahi Women's Chamber of Commerce Association Rositi Nazneen said that women in Rajshahi are far behind. However, the hope is that they are now taking various training and initiatives, albeit on a small scale. This is a good thing. Sumana's initiative to this end is also praiseworthy.

She urged the government to further increase and implements the multifaceted initiatives that the government is continuing to implement to ensure women's empowerment.

It is known that 200 women are trained in five categories in Rajshahi every year. They take training on modern tailoring and embroidery, mobile phone servicing, food processing and paper's bag making.