Where widows of '71 wove their own futures
After nearly 200 men were massacred in Rajshahi’s Charghat during the Liberation War, the widowed women of Thanapara rebuilt their lives through handicrafts, transforming a village marked by grief into a symbol of women’s resilience and economic independence
Rajshahi's Charghat upazila is located along the banks of the raging Padma. For generations, mornings here had begun with the sound of marching drills, whistles and gunfire from the nearby Sarda Police Academy.
After British rule ended, Pakistan was born. But in 1971, the violence surrounding the Liberation War reached Charghat as well.
After the Pakistani military launched its crackdown on 25 March and resistance emerged from Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka, troops soon took control of the Sarda Police Academy.
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On 13 April 1971, having finished their daily chores by afternoon, many of the village men were gathered near the riverbank, watching the low tides of the Padma drift by in quiet stillness.
Soon after entering Charghat, the Pakistani soldiers found the men. Within half an hour, the grayish waters of the Padma turned red with their blood.
The men were lined up and shot. Many died on the spot, while a few survived the gunfire, wounded and terrified. Later, even those survivors were doused with petrol and burned alive.
Nearly 200 men from Thana Para village were killed. After the massacre, the village became known as the "Village of Widows".
Since then, every year, 13 April is remembered as a day of mourning for Thanapara's residents. Yet, despite the immense loss suffered by Thanapara, not a single woman from the village had to beg or work in other people's homes.
"Our first priority was to support war-affected families, but now, after 55 years, our criteria have evolved. Today, our organisation prioritises women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, survivors of domestic violence, and women from large families struggling to survive on limited income. Recently, the organisation has also begun working with families affected by drug addiction and social instability." Md Mynul Haque, Manager, Handicraft Programme, Thanapara Swallows
After the war, many international aid organisations came to the country to support the war-affected regions. The Swallows, a relief agency from Sweden, arrived in Thanapara in 1972. At first, they began by providing relief to the affected families.
But the families who had suffered so deeply told them something inspiring. They said, "We do not want relief. What we truly need is an opportunity to earn a living."
It was from this demand for livelihood and dignity that Thanapara Swallows Development Society was born.
The initiative began with the goal of creating employment opportunities for the widowed women of the village. The plan was to create employment opportunities for war widows by producing handicrafts and garments for international markets — a model that remains fully export-oriented even today.
Earlier this year, products made by Thanapara's women were showcased at the Ambiente trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, one of the world's leading international consumer goods exhibitions.
From 1972 to 1997, the organisation operated as a project under the Swedish group Svalorna. Later, in 1997, it obtained local registration and began operating independently as Thanapara Swallows Development Society, both as a local NGO and a social business enterprise.
All the widows, who shared the same sorrow, spent their days working side by side, and at the end of each day, they returned home with an income that allowed them to support their families with dignity.
Among the many, was Hazratun Rewa.After her husband was killed, Hazratun was left with a son and a daughter — both under the age of three.
Another woman was Maleka Begum. Her husband, Abdul Wahab, was among the very first men shot on 13 April. He left behind Maleka, three sons and a daughter.
Both Hazratun and Maleka began working for Thana Para Swallows. With the income they earned, they were able to raise their children and build their future.
Inside Thanapara Swallows
The organisation operates through two parallel streams: social development work as an NGO, and economic activity through handicraft production.
Around 450 women are currently involved in the enterprise. About 100 work inside the factory premises, while another 350 women work from their homes, producing textiles and handicrafts within their own communities.
"Our first priority was to support war-affected families," he said. "But now, after 55 years, our criteria have evolved," said Md Mynul Haque, manager of the Handicraft Programme, Thanapara Swallows.
"Today, our organisation prioritises women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, survivors of domestic violence, and women from large families struggling to survive on limited income. Recently, the organisation has also begun working with families affected by drug addiction and social instability."
He added that the organisation sources only a few raw materials — such as thread, dyes, and chemicals — from outside. Everything else is crafted locally by the women themselves. The products are not sold in Bangladesh; the entire production is export-oriented.
Most of the artisans, Mynul explained, come from deeply vulnerable social conditions. Yet many already possess traditional skills passed down through generations. Women in rural Bangladesh often grow up learning hand embroidery and stitching from their mothers and grandmothers.
But traditional knowledge alone is not enough to compete in international markets. Thanapara was never historically known as a weaving or tailoring hub, and the women's inherited skills needed to be adapted to modern export standards.
"Women naturally know embroidery work because they learn it at home," Mynul said. "But that does not automatically mean the work is export-oriented."
To bridge that gap, the organisation regularly arranges professional training sessions — usually twice a year — where artisans learn weaving, dyeing, design work, stitching techniques, and quality standards required for international buyers.
Sabina Yasmin, a mother of two daughters from Miapur village in Charghat, had already endured years of hardship before one of the worst industrial disasters in Bangladesh changed her life forever.
After her husband married a second time, Sabina was forced to leave her home in 2003. Struggling to survive and support her daughters, she moved to Dhaka in 2008 and began working in the quality control section of a garment factory.
"In 2013, I was working inside the Rana Plaza building when the devastating collapse occurred. As the building crumbled, I was trapped on the third floor beneath the wreckage for nearly nine hours. The rescuers were however able to pull me out alive. Injured and traumatised, I returned to my village," Sabina recalled.
Later that same year, she applied for work at Thanapara Swallows.
"Seeing my financial condition, the organisation arranged a three-month training programme for me before offering a position in the sewing section."
Since then, Sabina has continued working there as a tailor. Over the years, her job has not only helped her rebuild financial stability, but also allowed her to support and educate her two daughters. Today, both of them have completed their intermediate education and are married.
For Sabina, Thanapara Swallows became the place where she began rebuilding her life from the ruins.
Inside the workshops, women dye fabrics in vibrant colours, weave textiles on looms, create intricate patterns, and sew finished products destined for foreign markets.
Until the Covid-19 pandemic, the institution primarily focused on home textiles and clothing items. But when international orders declined during the pandemic, the organisation rethought its approach. Slowly, it began diversifying its products, expanding into fashion textiles, bags, and other handcrafted goods in an effort to survive a changing market.
At the centre of this transformation has always been women's participation. Although the enterprise employs around 450 people, only five of them are men. The rest are women — many of whom once had very limited opportunities to earn an income or gain financial independence.
In community development as well
Beyond its handicraft enterprise, Thanapara Swallows has gradually expanded into a broader model of community development — one that combines women's economic empowerment with environmental sustainability, legal awareness, and social protection.
In the rural border region where the organisation operates, many farmers still rely heavily on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The organisation has been working closely with local farming communities to encourage safer and more sustainable agricultural practices.
According to Mynul Haque, "One of our major goals is to make farmers aware of the harmful effects of excessive chemical use. We regularly advise farmers on how to reduce pesticide dependency and adopt safer production methods.
"We also arrange training sessions on producing natural fertilisers and pesticides, particularly vermicompost."
Every year, the organisation distributes the vermicompost produced locally among farmers in the community, helping them transition toward more environmentally-friendly cultivation practices.
But sustainability, here, is not limited to agriculture alone.
Thanapara Swallow's location — near the Indian border in a largely rural area — has also exposed it to another pressing social issue: domestic violence and drug-related family instability. According to the manager, substance abuse and economic hardship have contributed to a high rate of family violence in the region.
In response, Thanapara Swallows launched a community-based awareness project focused on women's rights and legal education. Through workshops and outreach programs, women are taught about their legal protections, social rights, and the resources available to them in cases of abuse or violence.
The organisation has also established a small shelter home with five rooms, where women facing domestic violence or family crises can stay temporarily without any cost. Women in vulnerable situations are allowed to remain there for up to five days while receiving support and guidance from the organisation.
In partnership with BLAST and other legal aid groups women who need legal assistance are connected with professional support services.
Thanapara Swallows also runs educational programmes for children from some of the poorest families in the area, combining academic lessons with activities such as sports, drama, singing, and small-scale gardening.
Microcredit for rural women
Alongside these social initiatives, Thanapara Swallows also operates a small-scale microcredit program designed specifically for marginalised women. The loans are intended to help women become financially independent by starting small businesses or supporting family-run enterprises.
"Some women use the loans to open roadside food stalls or neighbourhood shops, while others invest in livestock, tailoring, or other home-based income opportunities. The repayment structure here is monthly, making it easier for women from low-income households to manage repayments without immediate pressure," Mynul added.
