What workedA craftsman-owner of a mic and sound service in Lalmohan, Bhola, in a Prothom Alo report · Started in 1997

Started in 1997 renting batteries and mics; a fishing-boat teenager now owns a sound service

A craftsman in Lalmohan, Bhola lost everything to river erosion, joined a fishing boat at 15 and became an engine mechanic. He began renting batteries and mics in 1997 and now rents and repairs sound systems with his son.

A craftsman in Lalmohan, Bhola went from fishing-boat crew to owner of a mic and sound service. According to Prothom Alo, three bouts of river erosion took the family's house, land and fishing boat and left them destitute, and school stopped after class five. After his father died he joined someone else's boat to fish at 15. One day in the 1980s the trawler's mechanic was on leave and the owner announced that whoever could start the engine would get the mechanic's share, a quarter more than the one share others got. Of six contestants, the 15-year-old started the engine, and his mechanic's career began there. With no teacher he later learned battery making, sound systems, amplifiers, solar panels and radio repair. In 1997 he began renting mics, cassette players and batteries at Battirkhal fish landing on the Meghna; renting out a single battery earned Tk 50 a day. He learned to make batteries and started building his own. Skilled in electronics, he left the boats and started a mic service under his own name at Mangal Sikdar bazar in Lalmohan. Now he rents sound systems for waz mahfils, social and cultural events, and he and his son repair parts and build new amplifiers. He says he would like to grow the business but is doing well as things are.

Lessons

1.Even from a small start (Tk 50 a day from one rented battery), learning to build and repair the equipment yourself became the business's real asset.
2.Find regular clients such as religious gatherings and social events that rent sound systems repeatedly.
3.Teaching the next generation in the family keeps repair and new-equipment work going.

We published this with the person's permission, without revealing who they are.

Discussion

Nobody has written anything yet. You can be the first.

Lessons

1.Even from a small start (Tk 50 a day from one rented battery), learning to build and repair the equipment yourself became the business's real asset.

2.Find regular clients such as religious gatherings and social events that rent sound systems repeatedly.

3.Teaching the next generation in the family keeps repair and new-equipment work going.