Photo : Collected

DHAKA, May 19, 2025 (BSS) - The 40-year-old Nasima Begum along with her only son Roopchand moved to the capital for searching a job last year, when the turbulent Padma river devoured her house and other property. Nasima's ailing husband Abdul Ali also accompanied her.

She first started living at a slum in Chholmaid area under Bhatara thana in the capital to be arranged by a person known by her. In the meantime, she managed a job of domestic help in Basundhara Residential Area. 

Nasima's husband does some light works as he is unable to do heavy works for his sickness. Most of his time was passed by sitting in their house. In rotation of the time, their son has grown up and got admitted to a school run by a non-government organisation (NGO).

But their son could not continue his study due to hardship in the family. 

After depositing some money from the salary of her work as a domestic help, Nasima opened a shop behind the Apollo Hospitals at Chholmaid Bazaar where she started selling Bhapa Pitha (steamed cake). Her husband Abdul Ali and son Roopchand also assist her.

Nasima earned Taka 40,000 in the last winter season by selling Bhapa Pitha and helped her husband Abdul Ali in setting up a mobile shop of betel leaf, cigearattes and tea. Ali earns Tk 500-700 daily by selling betel leaf, cigarettes and tea.

Nasima runs their family with the money. She, however, this time launched a cake shop in a bigger area at Chholmaid, which remains opened from afternoon to till 9 pm every day.

"After excluding cost, we make profit around Taka 800 by selling 250-300 cakes daily," she said. 

Though there is a tradition of making cakes in the rural areas, it's very difficult to get spare time for preparing cakes in the busy urban life.

As everybody wants to eat cake in the winter season, many people like Nasima are engaged in cake business. Many ultra poor families have become self-reliant by selling cake in different areas of the capital in the winter season.

The temporary cake shops were set up at various places including besides lanes, by-lanes, main intersections, bus stands and shopping malls as its demand gains momentum as the prices of their winter cakes are cheaper. 

Nasima, who hails from a village under Goalondo upazila in Rajbari, said when the sun sets, the people from various areas start gathering in front of their shop to buy cakes.

She said most of the buyers are the rickshaw pullers of Basundhara area who moved to the capital after keeping their family members at the village homes.

Though arrangements for making cakes are made in the rural areas during the winter, so these low income people do not get their taste. So many of them forget that pain by eating cakes from Nasima.

Nasima's husband Abdul Ali said as the winter is the peak time for cake business, many people are involved in the business. The seasonal business adds additional income to the family. 

"We hope that we'll make more profit than last year by selling cakes and if it happens, we'll open a permanent tea stall. Then my wife doesn't need to work at other's house," he said

Nasima, however, said she will not work as a domestic help anymore if she can make arrangements for permanent income for her husband. "If it happens, then we'll return to our village and stay there after purchasing a piece of land," she said.