Case studies
Pasful’s Story
Pasful was married at 15, and only attended school to level 2. She and her husband, Budhi, live in Kudumbari, in Barisal district, and they now have three daughters and one son.
But as the family grew they struggled to meet their basic needs, and Pasful realized she would need to earn some money to help her husband.
Following the example of some of the other women in her village, she began producing jute handicrafts to sell in a neighboring village, Ragerhar. Due to the difficulties in transporting their products to Ragerhar, Pasful eventually encouraged the women to work together to establish a centre in Kudumbari where they could sell their products from. The centre was a success, and they did not need to travel so far anymore.
In 1985 Tarango established an office in Kudumbari. Tarango began by starting a health program, skills training programs, a disaster rehabilitation program, income-generating activities, and a jute handicrafts program.
Pasful and the other women in the village benefited from all these programs, and they integrated their jute activities into the Tarango program. Pasful started making small, simple products for Tarango, and then developed her skills to produce products such as handbags and large baskets. She was quick to adapt to new products just by looking at them.
Pasful says she has learned a lot from working with Tarango, and has been able to develop her skills and improve her earnings. She also now stocks up on raw materials when they are in season, so as to have plenty to work with all through the year.
Before she started producing handicrafts, her husband only earned TK 2000 (approximately USD29) per month, and their land would yield TK 1000 annually. Pasful now earns TK 30 000 to 40 000 per year from her handicrafts.
When she began her business, her husband was scathing and did not believe she could earn money. But now he encourages her. And often, when she is doing household chores he stops her and takes over the housework, so she has time to work on handicrafts for Tarango at the centre.
The family now has a secure future, and does not have to worry about basic needs anymore. Usually only the sons of a family are educated in Bangladesh, but Pasful is proud to say that all her children go to school – her daughters are currently in higher secondary classes.
She has also been able to purchase a 25 hectare piece of land for her husband to work on, to buy household possessions, and to remodel the house to make it sturdier by replacing thatching with tin.
Bangladeshi men almost always know about and control the earning of their wives, but Pasful maintains control of the money she earns, and invests it in household and family expenses.
Pasful says that to her economic empowerment is about “speaking opinion without hesitation, free movement for women in Bangladesh, being assertive, and standing on my own two feet.”
She has improved her livelihood, and in doing so has gained confidence in herself to the point where she can facilitate training sessions for others.