My name is Tanvir, and I am an ordinary young man from Barishal. From a young age, I have been deeply concerned about nature and the environment. The overwhelming presence of plastic pollution everywhere—from rivers to roads and markets—made me think, “Isn’t there a better alternative?”
This question led me to explore the potential of jute, our country’s eco-friendly material. I wanted to do something meaningful with it. Although I had taken some training earlier, I didn’t fully understand how to start or run a proper business.
That changed when I joined the PROMISE project’s entrepreneurship training. For the first time, I learned how to organize my ideas, plan a business, and implement them step by step. After completing the training, I started working with my mother’s old sewing machine and just 2,000 BDT in capital. Many people laughed at me and doubted whether I could make a business out of it.
The greatest pressure came from my own family. After finishing my studies, everyone expected me to take a “good job.” After my father’s accident, I became the main earner for my family, and the pressure for a stable job intensified. Yet deep inside, I believed that pursuing this business was my true path.
I did not give up. Every day I worked, learned, and sometimes made mistakes. Slowly, my business, Patex Handicraft, began to take shape. Today, my enterprise earns over 100,000 BDT per month, and I reinvest 18–20% of the profit back into the business to grow it and involve more people.
For me, this business is more than income—it is a platform to create opportunities for others. My sister, who also completed the PROMISE training, is now a key member of the business and receives a regular salary. Ten women work full-time with us, and many more contribute from home. I provide local women with training, raw materials, and purchase their products, helping them stand on their own feet. Many of my trainees have even started their own independent businesses.
The same family that once doubted my path is now my strongest supporter. I am proud to say that this initiative, started with the goal of protecting the environment, has not only transformed my life but has positively impacted many others around me.
