How one woman changed the fortunes of an entire village

Owing to the extraordinary efforts of Bulbuli Begum of Chorgachha village in Dinajpur’s Ghoraghat upazila, the residents of the village, especially women, are now able to call themselves self-sufficient.

The whole village has been touched by socio-economic development. Women are now working alongside men to bring prosperity to their families.

Bulbuli Begum, a mother of three, started working on a piece of land along with her husband some time ago to ensure that her family could live comfortably. Her husband prevented her from working in the beginning, but he did not stop her anymore after thinking of the well-being of the family.

Following Bulbuli’s advice, other women of the village soon started working on their land and eventually became self-reliant. 

Bulbuli Begum established an organization called "Sabuj Nari Krishak Dal" (Green Female Farmers’ Group) in 2012. She has created employment for the men and women of the village by training them in various activities, including vegetable farming, fattening of cows, fish and duck farming, and tailoring.

Bulbuli Begum owns a cow and a duck farm. She currently spends her days looking after her farms and working to solve the problems of the women of the area. 

Bulbuli also ensured sanitary toilets for poor people through the upazila administration. Apart from this, she works to make sure that the elderly, disabled and pregnant women receive their allowance allotted by the government.

Bulbuli is now a household name in the area due to her work on women’s empowerment. Local representatives, including UP members, now help her in her work. 

Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rafiul Alam said: “I have seen Bulbuli Begum working for the women of her village since I assumed office. If other women of the society came forward like her, countless helpless women would have benefited.”

Obaydur, Ijaul and Sakirul, three beneficiaries of the changes brought on by Bulbuli, said they became self-sufficient by farming ducks and their families were not poverty-stricken anymore. 

Chicken farmers Taslima, Bilkis and Koyeli said their families were able to live comfortably due to poultry farming.

Thanking Bulbuli Begum, Josna and Safura, two fish farmers of the village, said: “By farming fish, we are able to earn a lot of money on top of meeting our nutritional needs.”