Aleya Begum of Bogura offers an answer. Where others might have seen five reasons to surrender, she found five lessons to learn, fueling a determination that carried her toward a better life.
Her story begins in 1998, when tragedy struck. Her husband, Babu Mia, lost his hand in an accident at his shipping job, a loss that shattered not only his body but their future as well. This tragedy set off a series of devastating setbacks. Their first attempt to rebuild, a bakery venture in Panchagarh, collapsed and wiped out their entire savings.
With nothing left, they went to Aleya’s father’s house. There, with her brothers’ help, they launched a yogurt business. But it too failed, leaving the family destitute.
They moved back to their village, where the inability to find work led to family tensions. Eventually, they sought shelter at her husband’s uncle’s home in Gabtali. Though they had a roofover their heads, they had no income. Sleepless nights and hunger became common, but one hope remained: with a small amount of capital, they could rebuild.
That chance came when Aleya and her husband discovered BURO Bangladesh’s Gabtali Branch. Microfinance became more than a loan. It became a partner that believed in their will to rise again.
In 2003, Aleya’s rebuilding beganwith a 3,000 BDT loan from BURO Bangladesh. She used the money to buyyogurt-making tools and started from her uncle’s kitchen. Her husband took tothe streets, selling yogurt door to door and along the footpaths. This time,their hard work finally paid off. People loved the product.
As the business grew, Aleyarented a small shop in Gabtali and named it New Model Doi Ghor. Today, thatshop supports four workers across production and sales.
Fourteen years later, the couplewelcomed their first child. By 2012, they had purchased land and built theirown home and production site on 11 decimals of land.
Since 2003, Aleya has remained a dedicated member of BURO Bangladesh, taking out 13 loans to reinvest and growth business. She reflects, “The first small loan BURO Bangladesh gave us was the breakthrough of our lives. They believed in my determination and have been a constant support for decades.”
