Dhaka:Afsana Afrin, a student from the University of Dhaka, has transformed her cooking hobby into a successful online food business. Her venture, 'Obosorer Dinlipi' (Diary of Leisure), which began with an initial investment of Tk 8,000, has gained significant popularity. Afsana now works with five colleagues offering a range of food items such as Nawabi semai and beef kalabhuna, with prices ranging from Tk 85 to Tk 2,300.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, one of Afsana's recipes is featured in the 'Chui Jhal' 100-recipes book, and her recipes have been published in national dailies. Afsana also participated in the Cookups ZeroCal Desserts Contest 2019, finishing among the top 16 contestants. Beyond cooking, she is an advocate for environmental sustainability, having developed methods to repurpose kitchen waste for gardening.
Over the last three years, Afsana has planted numerous trees, demonstrating her commitment to environmental causes. Her efforts in this area earned her the World Environment Day Award. She emphasizes the importance of reusing plastic to mitigate pollution and economic losses, stating that creating a garden can be affordable, costing between Tk 300 and Tk 600.
Similarly, Ishrat Jahan from Barishal has turned her childhood hobby of paper crafting into a profitable business. Known for making flowers, boats, and other items from paper, she established 'Purple' alongside completing her graduation. Her creative use of discarded materials, such as shoe boxes and calendar paper, in her scrapbooks has been well-received online.
Ishrat's business, which she started in 2017, includes a variety of products like candles with personalized messages, event props, and cards for all occasions. Sales are primarily conducted online through her Facebook page and YouTube channel, 'Purple Handicraft,' where she shares crafting tutorials. Deliveries outside Barishal are facilitated via courier services. Ishrat notes the profitability of paper crafting and aspires to inspire the younger generation with her work.