Home
+
Published : 26 Feb 2026, 10:02 AM
On RK Mission Road in Mymensingh city, the soft sun of Falgun spills across a small room alive with the steady rhythm of work.
Inside, several teenage girls and young women sit close together, weaving cloth and stitching garments with careful concentration. The clatter of sewing machines blends with quiet conversation.
Yet what stands out most is the confidence that seems to illuminate their faces -- brighter even than the sunlight falling across the room.
The cloth they weave is not simply fabric. In many ways, it is a fragile attempt to stitch together lives once overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.
For five young women who had either been victims of trafficking or were at severe risk of falling into it, the future once appeared bleak.
Poverty, harassment and social pressure had pushed them toward paths they never wished to take.
But since Feb 5, when a small initiative called Shopno Bunon -- meaning weaving dreams -- opened its doors, their lives have begun to change.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, the centre bustled with activity. One young woman worked deftly at a sewing machine. Another carefully printed block and batik patterns on fabric. Nearby, someone else greeted customers browsing the small but growing display of clothes and everyday items.
Each task, however ordinary, felt like a step toward a different future.
A Small Centre with a Larger Purpose
The initiative was established primarily to prevent child sexual trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, offering vulnerable girls and young women a path toward independence.
The centre -- formally named Shopno Bunon Fashion and Tailors -- was set up at a cost of Tk 220,000 through a joint initiative of the district administration, the Department of Social Services, and the probation office.
In the weeks since its inauguration, the modest enterprise has already drawn interest from locals.
Technical support for the project’s design and implementation came from Shapla Mohila Sangstha, which helped create a plan aimed at equipping neglected girls and young women with practical skills and employment opportunities.
Nahrin Sultana Neela, president of the Shopno Bunon management committee, said the initiative focuses on ensuring protection for children and mothers living in areas vulnerable to exploitation, including neighbourhoods near brothels.
“The project was implemented following the direction of the recently transferred district commissioner of Mymensingh, Mofidul Alam, under a coordinated plan prepared by Shapla Mohila Sangstha,” she said.
“Five girls who once felt lost are now building their identities with confidence.”
Shopno Bunon offers a variety of products and services to the local community, including:
Tailoring services
Block-batik and embroidered clothing
Cosmetics and women’s products
Laundry and clothing repair services
Daily household items
Baby products
Food items
The centre’s growing popularity has not only increased sales but also brought encouragement from customers who admire the women’s work.
Stories Shaped by Hardship
Among the five beneficiaries, two are still under the age of 18, while the remaining three are in their twenties. One of them is married. All come from different parts of Mymensingh district.
Their stories, though personal, share a common thread: poverty and vulnerability.
One young woman recalled how financial hardship and constant harassment shaped her life.
“Our family was in severe financial distress,” she said. “Whenever I went outside, men would look at me differently and constantly harass me.
“Sometimes they tried to lure me with money, and sometimes they promised good jobs either in the country or abroad. At times, I felt tempted to accept those offers, but in the end, I could not bring myself to do it. Now at least I have a safe shelter where I can live with some peace.”
Another young woman described a life defined by relentless struggle.
“Because my family was poor, I had to work in other people’s homes even at night,” she said. “Those moments were very frightening, and people often made unpleasant remarks.
“The truth is that life is very difficult for girls. For us, even dreaming of living an organised and beautiful life can be extremely hard.”
For years, deprivation, humiliation and predatory attention had shaped the lives of these five young women.
Now, slowly, the winds of change seem to be reaching them.
One of them spoke with visible excitement about the transformation she feels.
“Coming out of that dark life once felt like an impossible dream,” she said. “Now it feels real. We are grateful for the chance to rebuild our lives.”
Another young woman said the encouragement from the community had strengthened their resolve.
“Sales at Shopno Bunon are increasing every day, and people are responding positively to our work. Their encouragement inspires us.”
Building Independence
According to Neela, the project was designed not merely as a training programme but as a sustainable path toward self-reliance.
“We did not stop at providing training,” she said. “Budget allocations, necessary equipment and raw materials have all been arranged so that they can continue working comfortably.”
District administrator Saifur Rahman described the initiative as a noble effort.
“If they work with honesty and skill, these girls and young women will certainly succeed,” he said. “The administration will stand beside them whenever they need support.”
District Probation Officer Md Asaduzzaman said the beneficiaries were first identified by Shapla Mohila Sangstha, Sourav Nari Kalyan Sangha, and the Alokito Shishu Project, which located girls and young women who were at risk of trafficking or sexual exploitation.
“After speaking with them, we realised that financial hardship within their families could push them toward those paths,” he said.
“They were given two months of training before arrangements were made for their employment.”
Funding for the initiative came from several sources:
Tk 50,000 from the probation office
Tk 50,000 from the district social welfare council
Tk 120,000 from the district relief and rehabilitation office
Together, those contributions created something far more valuable than a small workshop.
For five young women in Mymensingh, it has become the fragile beginning of a life they once believed was beyond reach -- a life slowly being woven, thread by thread, into something brighter.
