Rabeya a glaring example of empowerment

1264

DHAKA, Nov 7, 2018 (BSS) – Rabeya Begum is a glaring example of women empowerment as she helps her family financially along with her husband running a shop of pitha (cake) with the help of her daughter-in-law, much to encourage other women to do something in their life.

Rabeya sells pitha (cake made of rice) at North Kazipara Bow Bazar intersection (a makeshift market for local housewives) on a van. She usually sells three kinds of pithas such as Chitoi pitha, Bhapa pitha and Chapti pitha.

Neighboring people relish the pithas with mouth-watering ‘bhorta’, mashed vegetables/fish with mustard oil, onion, garlic and red chilies.

Rabeya usually serves pithas with mustard bhorta, coriandrum bhorta and dried-fish bhorta.

Rabeya sells 200-250 pithas daily on an average with the price of Tk 5 per pitha. She earns Tk 500-600 daily after maintaining all the expenses. Her income is more than her husband Rubes Mia who supports her in business. The self-made woman also deposits a portion of her income.

The 35-year-old woman said she starts this pitha selling in 2014 at the same place with an expectation and she achieved her goal.

“Initially, I used to sell only Chitoi pitha and earned Tk 150-200 daily. After one and half years I added two more pitha items and started earning more than previous amount,” said Rabeya who is blessed with three offspring-two sons and one daughter.

Rabeya said her husband Rubes Mia has a small tea stall near North Kazipara Bow Bazar. But his income is insufficient to maintain the expenses of their seven-member family.

Though her elder son also a vegetables vendor, but his income is too small amount to bring the bread and butter for the family. That’s why Rabeya thought she should do any work for the wellbeing of her family. Finding many options, she decided to start pitha business beside his husband’s shop.

Hailing from Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj, Rabeya married to Rubes of Sonargaon upazila under Narayanganj district. Rabeya’s elder son is vegetables vender, younger son and daughter are school goers. Her elder son is married and his wife helps Rabeya to make raw materials of pithas.

Rabeya said, “My parents married off me to Rubes Mia at the early age. No one believes that I have a daughter-in-law, who is an expecting mother. My son also got married at the early stage. But now I know this is unlawful act. So, next time I will not do the same mistake as I have two other children. Now, we are doing great. I do not need to depend on others to run my family as I have achieved what I wanted through my hard work.”