Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Oct 10, 2025 (BSS) – As many as 30,000 extremely poor rural women have become economically empowered through various income-generating activities (IGAs) with the Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB) easy-term loan assistance in the district.

With PSB assistance, some 45,000 rural beneficiaries, including 30,000 women, have become solvent through IGAs at home and have graduated from the extreme poverty level.

Talking to BSS, Senior Officer of Rangpur Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB) Md Mahidul Islam said the PSB is now benefiting over one lakh members of Village Development Samities (VDSs) in all 77 unions of eight upazilas in the district.

The beneficiary VDS members have received revolving loans, small and medium enterprise (SME) loans, and skill enhancement training on fruit farming, pisciculture, goat, sheep and cow rearing, cow fattening, nursery, and poultry.

Talking to BSS, PSB beneficiary Asma Khatun, 58, of village Mollapara in Ramnathpur union of Badarganj upazila, said she led a miserable life with her daughter Khadija and son Bachchu after her husband left her 28 years ago.

“I worked at others’ houses to survive with my children until 2012, when I became a member of the local VDS and got Taka 10,000 as the first revolving loan at an eight percent service charge,” she said.

She bought a heifer and again got Taka 25,000 as the second revolving loan in 2015 after paying off the first loan in installments and purchased another heifer to move forward without looking back anymore.

“Again, I got a Taka 50,000 SME loan in 2018 and a Taka 70,000 SME loan at only a five percent service charge and purchased two cows with calves and took a lease of 30 decimals of cultivable land that yield rice crops twice a year,” Asma said.

While narrating her success story of overcoming extreme poverty with PSB assistance, beneficiary Golsena Begum, 48, of village Iswarpur Kandupara in Chandanpat union of Sadar upazila, became emotional recalling her previously dejected days.

Her farm-labourer husband, Mogreb Ali, 52, somehow managed food with his meagre daily wages between Taka 150 and Taka 180 by selling labour 16 years ago.

“After becoming a member of the local VDS in 2012, I got Taka 10,000, bought oxen, and again got Taka 20,000 in 2013 and purchased another ox,” she said.

“After repaying the loans, I got Taka 30,000 in 2014 and purchased a milk-giving cow with a calf and took a lease of 20 decimals of cultivable land where I cultivate Napier grass to feed my cows,” she said.

After getting another loan of Taka 45,000 in 2018, Golsena purchased another milk-giving cow with a calf. Now, she sells 15 litres of milk from three cows daily at Taka 55 per litre after meeting the nutritional needs of her five family members.

Golsena now has a well-furnished tin-shed house, sanitary latrine, tube well, colour television, furniture, a mobile phone, ceiling fan, nine cows, 25 chickens, 32 ducks, and other assets worth over Taka twelve lakh.

PSB beneficiary Chhabi Rani of Bahagili village in Kawnia upazila got Taka 10,000, Taka 15,000, Taka 20,000, and Taka 35,000 in phases since 2012 and changed her fortune through the betel nut business.

“I have married off my only daughter, taken a lease of 40 decimals of cultivable land, and improved facilities at home to lead a solvent life with total assets worth Taka eight lakh now,” said Chhabi Rani.

Similarly, beneficiaries Anwara Begum and Shapla Khatun of village Bamondighee in Taraganj upazila have also improved their living standards through animal husbandry with PSB assistance, like many other women.