TARA Uddokta Mela: From crisis to enterprise, women rewrite their business journeys

After losing her call centre job during Covid, Anjua began making rope furniture at home. Today, her venture employs 35 women.

From a small rooftop room, Kawsarun Nesa built a jute brand that now reaches international buyers and supports dozens of artisans.

Seeing children leave school for low-paid work, Maisha Lubaba created home-based income opportunities for mothers through traditional crafts, building a growing artisan network.

These three entrepreneurs were among 88 women-led ventures featured at BRAC Bank's TARA Uddokta Mela 2026, held at the Aloki Convention Centre on the Tejgaon-Gulshan Link Road in Dhaka, which began on 27 February and concluded today.

The three-day fair, the fourth edition of the event, showcased locally crafted products from across the country. Participants largely represented the manufacturing sector, presenting traditional and contemporary goods.

The event was officially inaugurated by Meheriar M Hasan, Chairperson of BRAC Bank. Lila Rashid and Anita Ghazi Rahman, independent directors of the bank, attended the ceremony, along with Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, managing director and CEO, and Syed Abdul Momen, additional managing director and head of SME Banking.

Visitors explored a wide collection of Bangladeshi products, including boutique and hand-stitched apparel, handmade crafts, clay and jute items, leather goods, Jamdani and Muslin attire, organic skincare products, bamboo and rattan products, and traditional foods. Dedicated iftar and dinner food courts were arranged ahead of Eid.

BRAC Bank introduced QR code-based payment facilities at all stalls. Customers received discounts of up to 20% on purchases made through QR payments during the fair.

Against this backdrop, the journeys of Anjua, Kawsarun Nesa and Maisha Lubaba show how small initiatives have developed into sustainable enterprises.

Anjua: From losing her call centre job to employing 35 women

Photo: TBS

Anjua worked at a corporate call centre for Tk10,000 a month. Her husband, Sahi Al-Amin, was an official at an export-oriented garment factory. In 2020, both lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving the family without income.

The setback pushed her to seek an alternative. Determined to earn from home, she began making rope sofa sets, divans and beds. During the pandemic, she opened a Facebook page named "Ayeshi" to sell the products online. Orders increased within a short time, marking the beginning of their joint entrepreneurial journey.

Her factory is now located in Piyalimari area of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj. It produces rope crochet items, nakshi kantha, rope sofa sets, chairs, stools, wall mats, rope beds, dining mats and swings.

Currently, 35 women work there regularly. After losing her job during Covid, she has created a steady source of income for many other women. She said average monthly sales range between Tk25 lakh and Tk30 lakh.

Anjuara shared her experience at BRAC Bank's TARA Uddokta Mela 2026, saying, "After losing our jobs during Covid, we were in a difficult situation. We started with very little capital. Now monthly sales stand at Tk25-30 lakh."

A client of BRAC Bank's Shibganj branch, she plans to open her own outlets in Dhaka and in a divisional city such as Rajshahi. She said she has also received assurance of low-interest loan support.

Leaving behind the loss of her Tk10,000 job, Anjua's "Ayeshi" is now more than a brand – it has become a symbol of self-reliance for marginalised women. 

Kawsarun Nesa: Taking Germination to global buyers

Photo: TBS

During one of the most difficult phases of her life, Kawsarun Nesa turned her skills and jute weaving into a successful enterprise.

Presenting her brand "Germination" at BRAC Bank's TARA Uddokta Mela, her story reflects not only survival but also growth from the roots upward.

Kawsarun Nesa, from Chattogram, had a strong academic record. She holds a master's degree in environmental science and a higher degree in interior design, but personal challenges tested her early in life.

When her daughter was about to start school, she began her struggle for financial stability. She started working as an interior designer with a salary of Tk6,000, while aiming to build something of her own.

Around 2019, Kawsarun began considering starting her own venture. She was affected by an incident in which a relative's less-educated daughter was sent back from her in-laws' house for "not being capable".

She wanted to create a space where women could learn skills and become self-reliant.

Moving beyond the limitations of her job, she chose jute. She named her brand "Germination", referring to new growth emerging through decline.

Without taking any bank loan, Kawsarun started work in a small rooftop room with her savings. Initially, she worked with four women to produce jute table mats and decorative items.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when much of the world slowed down, online demand for her products increased sharply. By processing jute sacks into colourful designed items, she drew the attention of buyers.

Gradually, her venture gained recognition. It came to the notice of the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC), and in 2021 she received her first direct export order from Spain.

She now works with several dozen women. In addition to Dhaka, she has developed a decentralised production model in Faridpur, a major jute-producing area, by building women leaders there.

Speaking at BRAC Bank's TARA Uddokta Mela, Kawsarun Nesa said, "With determination, even ordinary jute fibre can shape an extraordinary future."

Today, she is not only an entrepreneur but also a source of employment and confidence for many women.

Maisha Lubaba: Turning hidden talent into Protibha

Photo: TBS

Maisha Lubaba, founder and chief effect officer of "Protibha", conceived the initiative in 2014.

The aim was to bring forward the hidden talents of marginalised communities in Bangladesh and create sustainable income opportunities for them.

The initiative was shaped by a real-life experience. While working with dropout students at a foundation school, she saw that many children were leaving school to earn just Tk80-100 a week.

Financial hardship at home, particularly the unemployment of mothers, was forcing children to work.

She said, "I realised that if mothers could earn from home, children might return to school." That marked the beginning of Protibha.

The initiative started with kantha stitching and traditional handicrafts, using the women's existing skills. Over time, the product range gradually expanded.

At the end of 2015, experimental work began with rickshaw artists on ceramics. In 2016, the products were launched commercially through Facebook. Later, work expanded to glass and wooden items. Presenting rickshaw art in modern ceramic and decorative products increased interest among local and foreign buyers.

She said, "We want to present tradition in a modern way while preserving the artist's originality."

Protibha follows a different operating model. It has no central factory; each artisan's home serves as a workshop.

Raw materials and logistics support are delivered to their homes. If there are design or technical issues, the team provides direct assistance or resolves them through photo exchanges via messaging apps. Artisans send images at each stage of production to ensure quality control.

Currently, eight to 10 artisans work regularly, with the number rising to 10-20 during peak orders.

Protibha products are sold through various pop-up shops. They are also displayed at hotel receptions and embassy clubs in the capital. An experience corner at its Mohakhali office allows customers to view and purchase products directly.

Sales increase during Eid, Pahela Baishakh, December, and May-June. Demand rises particularly for locally made gifts taken abroad. The entrepreneur said international recognition of rickshaw art has also increased interest in traditional crafts.

Lubaba studied physics and computer science before moving into the development sector. She was associated with Brac University from 2010 to 2011. Her volunteer work led her to focus on improving the livelihoods of marginalised communities.

"I have seen that lack of opportunity is the biggest problem. The skills exist, but there is no platform," she said.

Protibha began on a small scale without significant capital. Orders were produced against advance payments, with the remaining amount collected upon delivery, allowing the business to grow gradually.

By participating in BRAC Bank's TARA Uddokta Mela, Protibha connected with new customers and potential collaborators. She said the platform was particularly positive in giving women entrepreneurs space to share their stories.

Protibha is not only a business; it is an effort toward social change, where a woman working from home earns an income while contributing to her child's return to school, her family's stability, and the revival of traditional crafts.