Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
A community development committee (CDC) in Khulna's ward 17 that empties septic tanks with a vacutug
Home & local servicesKhulna
A community development committee in Khulna's ward 17 made a Tk 145,780 profit in a year emptying septic tanks and pits with a small vacutug. Over the same period the city corporation's larger vacutug ran at a loss for lack of demand.
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Owner of a daycare in Tikatuli, Dhaka, formerly a caregiver at Bangladesh Bank's daycare
Home & local servicesDhaka
A caregiver who worked a decade at Bangladesh Bank's daycare lost that job and in 2019 spent Tk 10 lakh to open her own daycare in Tikatuli, Dhaka. The pandemic sent the children home; she is still repaying loans from that time and now runs with six children.
A cosmetics shopkeeper from Keraniganj, Dhaka, who buys stock at Chawkbazar
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
During the 2021 lockdown, a Keraniganj shopkeeper buying cosmetics for his shop at Chawkbazar before Eid said demand outside Dhaka usually rises before Eid but was low this time. With transport costs higher, his profit would also be smaller.
A shop owner with 8 years in Gulistan's sports goods market, Dhaka
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
A shopkeeper with 8 years in Gulistan's sports goods market said ahead of the 2022 football World Cup that the season had started but sales were below hopes. Import costs had pushed prices up, and many traders, short of capital, were stocking cautiously.
A hobby angler raised in Bikrampur who owns a fishing tackle shop in Mohakhali, Dhaka
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
Driven by a childhood love of fishing, three brothers opened a shop for a Chinese fishing-tackle brand in Mohakhali, Dhaka in 2014, later adding a showroom on Elephant Road. Buyers come from across the country via Facebook and YouTube, but in a low-rain year business was poor even in the April-October season.
A young man from Nawabganj, owner of the Maa Electric shop, in a Business Standard report
Retail & wholesale
After graduating, a young man opened a shop called Maa Electric in 2014 on a friend's advice, buying Chinese goods from importers to resell. In 2015 he got his own import licence and in 2017 imported three machines to start manufacturing; his factory now makes about 800 kinds of products.
The fourth-generation owner of Mehboob Optics, Patuatuli and Green Road, Dhaka
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
Mehboob Optics, started in Patuatuli, Old Dhaka in 1948, has kept customers for decades through fair prices and honesty, opening a Green Road branch in 1977. By strengthening online sales in the pandemic it delivered 30-40 orders a day even in lockdown.
The owner of Pet Zone BD, which sells pet food online and in a store, in a Daily Star report
Retail & wholesale
Pet Zone BD, which sells pet food and accessories online and from a physical store, saw monthly sales rise from Tk 10 lakh in 2019 to Tk 20-30 lakh in 2023. The reason was the jump in demand for pet food, accessories and medicine after the Covid lockdown.
A toy shop owner in Friendship Market, Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka
Retail & wholesaleDhaka
A toy seller in Chawkbazar's Friendship Market, Old Dhaka, used to make half a year's sales at one Boishakhi fair, and feared big losses when Covid cancelled it. Demand from home-bound children filled that gap, and local manufacturing has also brought toy prices down.
Founder of an online truck-booking platform who previously ran an FMCG business, as reported by Future Startup
Digital & B2B servicesDhaka
An FMCG businessman saw truck owners charge for both legs because they feared an empty return. In 2017 he launched an online platform matching truck owners with shippers; about 80,000 vehicles are now on it.
A pickup driver at Khatunganj, Chattogram, as reported by Prothom Alo
Digital & B2B servicesChattogram
A pickup driver delivering from Khatunganj, Chattogram, burns 10–12 litres of diesel a day. The price rise adds Tk200–240 a day; he says the old fare won't cover costs and plans to add Tk1–5 per sack.
Co-founder and CEO of an online travel agency, as reported by The Daily Star
Digital & B2B servicesDhaka
A couple started an offline travel-booking business in 2014 and launched a full online platform in 2019. In the pandemic they survived by opening a B2B service for small agents, and later raised over $11.5 million.