Narayanganj: Jahura, a single mother from Rupganj upazila, has transformed her life from one of hardship and uncertainty to becoming a successful entrepreneur due to her unwavering inability to accept failure. Her journey to self-employment was not driven by ambition but by necessity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jahura’s life took a challenging turn when she was married off at the age of 12 to a man three times her age. Initially, her life seemed happy in her husband’s house in Bagab village. However, the situation deteriorated as she faced pressure and physical abuse over dowry demands. Despite giving birth to a daughter, the abuse continued, leading Jahura to make the difficult decision to divorce her husband when her child was just three years old.
Returning to her paternal home in 2006 offered little solace, as her family was unable to support her through the crisis. Despite being urged to reunite with her husband, Jahura was determined to build a new life for herself. She focused on education, recognizing its importance in achieving independence. A turning point came when a local NGO worker encouraged her to train in beauty parlour skills, which she pursued with only Taka 3,350.
Jahura’s reputation for her makeup skills rapidly grew, allowing her to rent a space at Bagber Bazar for her business. However, her family continued to pressure her to return to her husband and later attempted to force her into arranging a marriage for her daughter, Joyeeta. To escape this pressure, Jahura chose to live independently with her daughter, renting a room beside her business. In 2015, she furthered her education by enrolling at Mourapura Degree College for advanced training.
Currently, Jahura earns between Taka 30,000 and 40,000 per month and has been an elected member of the Bangladesh Women Chamber. Her daughter attends school, fulfilling Jahura’s dream of providing her with a better future. Reflecting on her past, Jahura expressed her desire to focus on the future, stating, “My daughter is my everything. I will try my best to get her educated to make her a worthy citizen.”
Without prior business experience, Jahura attributes her success to her refusal to accept failure, illustrating the resilience and determination that have defined her entrepreneurial journey.