Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
An online writer in Sunamganj, in a Prothom Alo report
Digital & B2B servicesSunamganj
Writing in English online alongside a college job: 3,000 taka in the first 10-15 days, and about 2 lakh taka a month now with a team of four.
A laundry owner in Chattogram, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesChattogram
The son has run his father's laundry since 1984. Thirty-eight unbroken years of paying income tax brought him an award as one of Chattogram's best long-term taxpayers for 2021-22.
A woman entrepreneur in Barishal, in a bdnews24 Bangla report
Home & local servicesBarishal
She began in 1992 with no capital, only her craft skills. A bank loan came in 2012, and the business now holds 25 lakh taka of capital with 21 permanent staff.
A young beautician in Tangail, in a Dhaka Prokash 24 report
Home & local servicesTangail
Alongside her honours degree she does home parlour work and bridal makeup, earning 25,000-30,000 taka a month. The training was just 12 days.
A woman parlour owner in Shariatpur, in a BSS report
Home & local servicesShariatpur
Built from her own savings, then expanded with a 60,000-taka loan. The parlour now has five regular staff and brings in over 40,000 taka a month.
The founder of a phone repair chain in Dhaka, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesDhaka
Five branches across Dhaka shopping centres and 50-60 technicians, all paid on commission rather than salary. The national phone repair market is put at about 3,000 crore taka.
A shopkeeper in Rajshahi, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesRajshahi
Setting up the compose and photocopy shop cost 630,000 taka, with rent of 20,000 a month.
A woman cobbler in Jhalokathi, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesJhalokathi
She repaired shoes on a footpath in Jhalokathi for twelve years. A local businessman put up about 100,000 taka to build her a shop and stock it with new footwear, and it opened on 5 August 2020.
An AC and fridge repairer in Dinajpur, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesDinajpur
Three years ago the day brought 300-400 taka. After a six-month course in AC and fridge servicing, he runs his own business with six workers and about a lakh a month.
A young repairman in Jashore, in a Prothom Alo report
Home & local servicesJashore
He was jobless for years after his father died. A six-month hands-on course in electrical repair in 2023 led to his own shop, now bringing about 40,000 taka a month with two workers.
Wholesalers at the Dipnagar fish market in Dhaka, in a Prothom Alo report
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
The Dipnagar market, started in 2009, turns over 2 to 2.5 crore taka between 6 and 9 a.m. each day, including around 40,000 kg of pangash.
A woman selling cloth from home in Bera, Pabna, in a Prothom Alo report
Retail & wholesalePabna
A cloth business run from home in Bera municipality started about five years ago with roughly 40,000 taka; the capital is now over 400,000.
