DHAKA, May 18, 2026 (BSS) -  Amena Begum has been able to overcome all levels of hurdles such as poverty and negative impact of early marriage as she transformed her adversity into strength and rebuilt her life through determination and hard work.   

Now working as a machine operator at Hope Lun Apparels Limited in Gazipur, Amena is not only supporting her family with her income but also building the future of her elderly father and HSC examinee son with unwavering courage and love. 

Recently, while speaking to this reporter at her rented residence near her factory in the Gazipura area of Gazipur city, Amena shared the story of her struggle and rise from almost nothing. 

Amena was born into a poor family in Choudighi village under Sherpur upazila of Bogura district.

Growing up in a family of five siblings, poverty was a constant companion throughout her childhood. 

Although she was deeply interested in studies, financial hardship forced her to stop her education after class four. 

However, she turned the pain of being deprived of education into motivation to fulfil her son’s dreams. 

At the age of just 15, she was married off. She became a mother at 18, and within a year her marriage collapsed. 

Despite facing her husband’s irresponsibility, financial uncertainty and abuse, she did not break down. Thinking about her child’s future, she made the courageous decision to start life anew. 

After the divorce, she stayed at her father’s house for some time, but poverty made it impossible to remain there for long. 

Eventually, leaving her child with her mother, she came to Dhaka in search of work. 

That period, she said, was one of the most difficult chapters of her life, but it also marked the beginning of a new journey. 

In 2016, without any prior experience, Amena started working as a helper at a garment factory. In the beginning, learning the work and adapting to a new environment was difficult. But through patience and hard work, she gradually became skilled and eventually rose from helper to machine operator. 

Her starting salary was only Taka 5,600. Currently, she earns Taka 16,400 per month along with overtime benefits. Her entire family depends on this income. 

The greatest source of strength in Amena’s life is her son, Aminur Rahman Hridoy. He is currently studying in the science group at a college in the Uttara area and is an HSC examinee this year. Amena has placed all her unfulfilled dreams in her son, with one goal — to ensure he becomes educated and a good human being. 

Becoming emotional while speaking about her son, Amena said, “I do not have any dream of my own anymore. Now I have only one dream — to make my son successful. What I could not achieve, I want him to achieve. If he can do something good in life, my life will be fulfilled.” 

Living under financial hardship, she carefully manages every expense. She sacrifices even her small personal wishes for the sake of her son’s future. Yet she has no regrets, finding fulfilment in her child’s success. 

Apart from her son’s responsibilities, Amena has also taken responsibility for caring for her elderly father. With her hard-earned money, she bought cattle and land for him and also bore the treatment expenses of her ailing mother. 

Although she received several marriage proposals after the breakdown of her marriage, she never considered starting a new family again, as her son’s future remained her highest priority. 

Her daily routine begins at 5 am with waking up, cooking and prayers before heading to the factory. After long working hours, she returns home and single-handedly manages all household responsibilities. Hard work and a strong sense of duty have become the main driving forces of her life. 

Drawing from her own experience, she advised other women, saying, “Losing something in life does not mean everything is over. One can start again. You have to be patient, believe in yourself and try to stand on your own feet.” 

Amena Begum’s story is not just the personal struggle of a woman; it is a story of courage, self-confidence and resilience. Like her, countless women workers continue to fight silently every day, building new possibilities for themselves and their families.