Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
A clothing seller in Dhaka, in a Prothom Alo report
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
A kurti label started on Facebook with 50,000 taka sold out its first batch in 26 days, and after roughly a decade online opened a shop at Mirpur 11.5 on 11 May 2025.
A shopkeeper beside a haor in Maulvibazar, in a Prothom Alo report
Retail & wholesaleMoulvibazar
A grocery shop in part of her own house beside the haor, started on a 20,000-taka NGO loan, running four years and bringing 5,000-6,000 taka a month.
A plastic recycling plant owner in Nakla, Sherpur, in a Dhaka Post report
Light manufacturing & workshopSherpur
Started in 2006 with a 1.5 lakh taka scrapping machine, this unit now makes 10-15 tonnes of plastic flake a month, employs 20 people and earns its owner 1 to 1.5 lakh taka a month by his own account.
A paper bag maker in Alfadanga, Faridpur, in a Samakal report
Light manufacturing & workshopFaridpur
In Bakail village, Alfadanga, old paper is bought by the kilo and turned into bags at a piece rate of 10-20 taka a kg. One maker does up to 20 kg a day for at least 300 taka, with no capital and no premises.
A furniture workshop owner in Sherpur Sadar, in a Prothom Alo report
Light manufacturing & workshopSherpur
One of the roughly 300 furniture workshops across seven villages in Sherpur Sadar is run by a former carpenter whose investment in the business now stands at 25 lakh taka.
A shoe factory owner in Chowmuhani, Noakhali, in a Dhaka Post report
Light manufacturing & workshopNoakhali
From a shop job paying 20 taka to a factory built on a 3 lakh taka bank loan: 40 workers, 300-350 pairs a day, 30 lakh taka of sales a month and 3 lakh taka of income.
A cement pillar factory owner in Baraigram, Natore, in a bdnews24 Bangla report
Light manufacturing & workshopNatore
A cement pillar factory priced at 2.8 lakh taka was bought with 40,000 taka in hand, the balance worked off under an 18-month labour contract. Two units now make 600-650 pillars a day for 12,000-15,000 taka of profit.
A concrete block factory owner in Kurigram, in a Dhaka Times 24 report
Light manufacturing & workshopKurigram
Set up in Kurigram Sadar in 2021, this block plant makes 7,000-10,000 blocks a day and earns its owner an average 3-4 lakh taka a month; building with the blocks costs 25 percent less than brick.
A handmade soap maker in Narsingdi, in a Prothom Alo report
Light manufacturing & workshopNarsingdi
He began making soap by hand in 2007 with 60,000 taka. A first Japanese order in 2009 was worth USD 5,000 for about 50,000 pieces; the unit now exports around 50,000 soaps a year and employs 13 people.
A rope-craft workshop owner in Dinajpur, in a Prothom Alo report
Light manufacturing & workshopDinajpur
Started at home in 2020 with 3,000 taka. Sales now run at 3-3.5 lakh taka a month on a 15-17 percent margin after costs, with 21-30 people working.
A bamboo handicraft maker in Dighinala, Khagrachhari, in a Prothom Alo report
Light manufacturing & workshopKhagrachhari
He graduated in 2017, took bamboo handicraft training in 2021 instead of chasing a job, and started that December. Trays sell at 600 taka, vases at 400 and miniature jhumghar models at 1,200; after all costs he earns about 20,000 taka a month.
A hogla-leaf handicraft producer in Fulbaria, Mymensingh, in a Samakal report
Light manufacturing & workshopMymensingh
He learned the craft at a Dhaka handicraft firm while still in class nine, returned home in 2016 and set up production. The unit now turns out about 1 crore taka of goods a year, and women weaving at home earn 5,000-6,000 taka a month.
