Shamsun Nahar · Barayerhat Branch
“Beggar, Enrich, PKSF, OPCA”— Shamsun Nahar
Shamsun Nahar was born on June 12, 1948, in Gedamara village under No. 1 Karerhat Union, Mirsarai Upazila, Chattogram District. She was the fourth daughter of a impoverished daily-wage laborer in a hilly area. She spent her early years struggling to survive, often going without proper meals until the age of 16. Following her father's passing, her family’s hardship intensified, marking a difficult new chapter in her life.
Under pressure from her mother and uncle, 16-year-old Shamsun Nahar was married to Ali Miah, an equally impoverished daily wager. Ali Miah supported the family by cutting firewood in the hills and selling it at the local market. Maintaining a family of six—the couple, one daughter, and three sons—proved nearly impossible on his meager earnings. As living conditions turned desperate, Shamsun Nahar was ultimately forced to beg door-to-door to feed her family.
When her daughter reached marriageable age, the couple mortgaged their only asset—their house plot—to cover wedding expenses. Tragically, Ali Miah passed away before the mortgage could be repaid, plunging Shamsun Nahar’s life into deep uncertainty. To make matters worse, her daughter was sent back home by her in-laws due to unpaid dowry demands.
Left alone to raise three sons with no clear income, survival became an uphill battle. Shamsun Nahar tried working as a domestic helper, but often went unpaid or hungry. With no other options, she took her children and resorted to begging from village to village, enduring humiliation and neglect.
Her turning point arrived while begging in Katagang village, where she met Md. Shafi, an Education Supervisor from the non-governmental organization OPCA. He informed her about the rehabilitation initiatives under the ENRICH (Samriddhi) program, implemented by OPCA and funded by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).
Following her application and a recommendation from the Chairman of No. 1 Karerhat Union, Shamsun Nahar received a grant of BDT 100,000 approved by PKSF. On the advice of the local Chairman, she established a small grocery shop and was also provided with two cows.
Using the income generated from her store, she expanded into tenant farming, vegetable cultivation, and poultry rearing. These ventures allowed her to comfortably cover her medical expenses and daily household needs.
Today, Shamsun Nahar’s financial independence and social standing have transformed completely:
Project Title: Enhancing Resources and Increasing Capacities of Poor Households Towards Elimination of Their Poverty (ENRICH) Program.
