Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
A floating-bed vegetable farmer in Satla beel, Uzirpur, Barishal, as reported by Prothom Alo
Agriculture & farmingBarishal
A farmer in Satla beel, Uzirpur, Barishal spent Tk 35,000 building ten floating beds and had sold Tk 60,000 of vegetables by the time of the report, expecting Tk 70,000–80,000 in all.
A hatchery owner in Gouripur, Mymensingh, as reported by Prothom Alo
Agriculture & farmingMymensingh
A former fisherman and bicycle fry seller in Gouripur, Mymensingh leased a derelict pond for Tk 500 a year to start in fry. He built his own hatchery in 2005 and won the national fisheries award in 2023.
A returnee migrant pangas farmer in Sakhipur, Tangail, as reported by Prothom Alo
Agriculture & farmingTangail
A Sakhipur, Tangail farmer who returned after 13 years in Singapore started pangas in five leased ponds and now farms 12 ponds on 40 acres. In 2021 he sold about Tk 5 crore of fish and earned about Tk 1 crore after costs.
Three partners behind a Mohakhali burger brand, as reported by The Financial Express
Food processingDhaka
Three young men's roadside burger cart closed after 2016 over its location, but a proper outlet in 2017 grew to 14 outlets in six years; they credit steady quality and value pricing.
A shutki entrepreneur in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, as reported by The Business Standard
Food processingCox's Bazar
A Maheshkhali entrepreneur dries fish in the sun on racks covered with mosquito nets and plastic, then vacuum-packs it; such 'organic' churi shutki sells for nearly twice the regular price.
Two IBA-graduate founders of a Dhaka catering firm, as reported by The Business Standard
Food processingDhaka
A Dhaka caterer started in 2016 by two IBA graduates grew quickly by leaning on corporate events, publishing its prices on social media and bringing new dishes to off-site catering.
A cashew processing plant in Bandarban town, as reported by Prothom Alo
Food processingBandarban
A mid-sized Bandarban plant buys local raw cashew, processes and packs it in nine steps and sells nationwide; it is signing contracts with growers to secure supply.
A young freelancer from the haor area of Mohonganj, Netrokona, in a Prothom Alo report
Digital & B2B servicesNetrokona
A young man from the Mohonganj haor in Netrokona failed after a first course paid for with a Tk 4,000 loan; after learning Google Ads and web analytics he now earns about $2,000 a month on Fiverr.
A university student content writer in Chattogram, in a Daily Star report
Digital & B2B servicesChattogram
A Chattogram university student who could not afford a Tk 15,000 course opened an Upwork profile with writing as her only skill; she went from $3 to $15 an hour and now subcontracts to a team of 10.
A banana grower from Hoanak union, Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, in an Alokito Bangladesh report
Agriculture & farmingCox's Bazar
A betel-leaf grower in Hoanak, Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, planted Sagar banana on 150 kora of sharecropped land; he spent about Tk 1.5 lakh and expects Tk 3.5–4 lakh a year.
A CCTV marketer in business since 2003 and a Dhaka IT hardware shop, in a Business Standard report
Digital & B2B servicesDhaka
A marketer who began selling CCTV in 2003 saw cameras move from an elite purchase to a consumer product; a Dhaka IT shop's CCTV sales rose 60% after the lockdown.
A bamboo grower from Kalikapur village, Madaripur Sadar, in a Bangla Tribune report
Agriculture & farmingMadaripur
A farmer in Kalikapur, Madaripur Sadar turned land ruined by flood sand into a bamboo grove of over an acre; he sells each pole for Tk 70 to 250.
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