DHAKA, Nov 23, 2025 (BSS) - After graduating from the Department of Political Science of Rajshahi University, Elora Afroz Rimu stepped into the professional world with the same hopes shared by countless young graduates — to build a career, earn with dignity, and support her family. 

She landed a well-paid job, too. But the promise of stability was short-lived, as circumstances soon pushed her to walk away from the position she had worked so hard to secure.

She turned her attention to raising her children and managing her family, yet her restless mind refused to settle. What did she truly want? She longed for a path unbound by the clock, free from rigid rules and unwanted restraints — a space where she could work on her own terms. 

More than that, she wanted this freedom to become the foundation of a better future. In essence, Elora dreamed of taking flight, moving steadily toward prosperity on the wings of aspirations she had long kept buried.

And today, it seems that entrepreneur Elora is indeed soaring on those very wings. As global investment and entrepreneurship undergo a generational shift, Bangladesh’s Gen Z is stepping forward with newfound confidence, choosing self-driven initiatives over traditional paths. 

Elora stands among this rising wave of young innovators — carving out her own journey, on her own terms.

In a recent interview, Elora Afroz Rimu opened up about her path to entrepreneurship — a journey marked by determination, detours, and discovery. From her university days to the challenges that shaped her ambitions, she recounted the highs and lows that ultimately led her to build a venture of her own.

Elora said, “Within a few days of my graduation, I joined the human resources department of a ready-made garment factory as an officer. In the meantime, I got married to the man of my choice.

At one stage, Elora completed a PGD in Human Resource Management from Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) to make her skilled in the workplace. This gave her the opportunity to do better in her field. 

In the meantime, Elora's first child came. At this stage, it became a little difficult for Elora to work while raising a child which was also causing her mental distress. That is, she was not able to give time to her family and children while managing the office. At one stage, Elora resigned from her job in frustration.

“But I couldn't accept it. I left a job with good pay and an environment where others couldn't get a job. It was very painful for me . . . However, I planned to overcome this hardship by gaining strength in a new way and moving forward,” she said. 

Considering all aspects, she started an initiative called 'Swapnadana' on July 1, 2020, with a small capital on an experimental basis. Since the capital was small, she did not dare to open a shop or showroom. 

The journey of becoming an entrepreneur began on the online open platform social media Facebook as part of realizing this dream.

Elora said, "I’ve started with bed sheets, bed covers, towels, and ‘lungis’ from Kumarkhali, Kushtia, my locality. Since I live in Khulna, I started working with pure honey from the Sundarbans."  Later, several other food products were added to her online platform 'Swapnadana'.

She continued, “Actually, after the birth of my first child, my son became very ill. As I took my son to the doctor, the thought of working disappeared from my mind. At one point, my son recovered. But the disappointment in my life did not subside. I was suffering from the pain of not being able to do anything myself.”

“After years of depression, I started thinking about whether there was any work that would not be too much of a problem in taking care of my children. Then, on the advice of my younger sister, I created an online page. At first, I thought of working on children's food. But due to various adversities, it did not work out. Then Corona pandemic began. During this time, I started an online business through 'Swapnadana’.”

She said that the textile mill owners of Kushtia also cooperated a lot in setting up the initiative in the beginning. They also provided pictures of the products including bed sheets and ‘lungis’ from their factories. They also gave an accurate idea about the price, she said.

Apart from her husband, Elora's parents are constantly supporting her daughter in her business. For this, she is very grateful to them. 

She said, “My father still regularly collects the products from Kumarkhali and couriers them to me. And my husband takes care of everything. I started with just Taka 10,000. Actually, there is no fixed income in online business per month. Currently, after deducting all expenses, I earn Taka 60,000/- to 70,000/- per month. Again, during some festivals, it exceeds Taka one lakh.”

Elora said, “I think women should come forward as entrepreneurs. If you move forward with your self-confidence, it is possible to succeed in your own venture. Actually, I think every woman in society should have her own identity. As a woman entrepreneur, I dream of a respectable position in society. Where people will know me and recognize me through my work.” 

However, she said that she faced various obstacles at different times while running an online venture. 

Sharing her experience, Elora said, “I have to hear a lot of negative comments from people around me. In addition, it is difficult to get the right price for the product. In this case, courier service is a big problem, she added.