Jesmin reclaims life with a fresh start

In a small rented house near C&B in Barishal City's No 1 Pool area, 58-year-old Jesmin Akhter was busy packing lunch boxes for her clients.

Every day, she cooks and delivers meals to about 18 people, including students, teachers, and office employees. Occasionally, she also caters for meetings at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and the Department of Social Services.

But Jesmin’s journey to self-reliance was far from easy.

In 2020, she was jailed for a year in a loan default case filed under the Money Loan Court Act. 

“My husband borrowed Tk 2 lakh using my name. When he failed to repay, the lender sued my son and me, demanding Tk 10 lakh using a blank cheque I had signed earlier,” Jesmin said.

Jesmin was released from jail in September 2021. During her time behind bars, she met Sazzad Parvez, assistant director of the District Social Services Office, who later provided her with a sewing machine and Tk 15,000 in small instalments to help her start over.

Since then, Jesmin has rebuilt her life through hard work. 

“With my meal supply business, I’ve repaid most of my debts. Around Tk 70,000 remains, which I’m paying off gradually,” she said, adding that her husband now helps with deliveries.

“I’ve become self-reliant, but I dream of expanding my business if I can get more capital,” Jesmin said.

According to the District Social Services Office, over 100 women in Barishal have received training and support to become entrepreneurs in recent years.