From broke to millionaire: How Oli becomes successful entrepreneur

Oli Ullah lost everything due to river erosion brought in by the devastating flood of 1988. He was then 24 years of age.

Leaving his native town Cumilla, Oli went to Chuadanga district in search of livelihood, and took a job at a local workshop there.

In 1992, Oli himself opened a workshop named 'Janata Engineering' in Chuadanga, with a capital of only Tk4,000.

After around three decades, Oli's workshop has now turned into one of the most popular agricultural machineries manufacturing entities in the country.

Now Oli's firm has an annual sale of around Tk22 crore, and farmers across the country buy agricultural machines from him.

Oli Ullah manufactures agro machines by using local technology and equipment.

The agricultural tools manufactured by Oli are more affordable when compared to the imported ones, as farmers can buy these products at cheaper prices.

Janata Engineering has now been manufacturing 36 types of agro machineries, and there are 32 employees at this firm.

Oli was born in Debidwar upazila under Cumilla district. He runs his workshop at Sarojganj bazar in Sadar upazila of Chuadanga.  

By manufacturing affordable agro machines, Oli's workshop has somewhat brought a revolution in the country's agriculture sector, letting farmers do their farming at low costs.

The machines manufactured by Oli cost as low as half the prices of the imported machines of similar kind, farmers said.

Currently, Janata Engineering is manufacturing seed sowing machine, reaper, potato sorting machine, grass cutting machine, threshing machine, and many more like these.

There is a huge demand for these machines at the farmer level, and there are dealers in many districts who supply Oli's machines to local farmers.

Sometimes, the machines are supplied through courier services.

Helal Islam, chief technician at Janata Engineering said: "We efficiently manufacture many agro machines with modern technology. We also repair the machines, and provide farmers with technical assistance."

Sufi Rafiquzzaman, deputy director at the Department of Agricultural Extension in the district said: "Oli Ullah is manufacturing different types of agricultural machineries by using local technology, which are very popular among farmers.

"Farmers in large scale are using these machines to grow more crops on their farmlands," he added.

On a visit to Janata Engineering, The Business Standard found that there were two factories with 32 employees. They all were mainly engaged in operation process.

Janata Engineering started to supply their machineries to the districts outside Chuadanga in 2015.

The Janata Engineering authorities also arrange regular workshops in order to impart training on unemployed youth.

Abdul Kader, owner of Momin Engineering at Sarojganj bazar in the Sadar upazila said: "Oli Ullah has practically taught me how to manufacture agricultural tools. Now, we are also manufacturing such instruments."

The managing director and owner of Janata Engineering Oli Ullah said: "I had to work hard to change my fate. Now I'm a successful entrepreneur. Employment opportunities have also been created for many people there."

"It will be my pleasure, if the country could turn into an exporter of agricultural machineries after fulfilling local demand," he added.