These women once thought their lives would never change for the better. But an initiative by the department of women affairs has changed all that.
At Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenidah, women have been encouraged to do something worthwhile and move towards a bright future. Now they deserve to become entrepreneurs.
The brave women are Kulsum Akter and Shova Rani of Bajenamanda, Sathi Khatun of Safderpur, Hamida Khatun, Nasima Begum, Rahela Khatun, Latifa Khatun, Kuslum Akter, Kabita Khatun, Runa Akter, Nasrin Akter, Bipaasha Khatun, Shirina Khatun and Mamataj Khatun of Narayanpur, Suraiya Khatun of Solemanpur, Sumi Akter of Galimpur, Nishi Khatun of  Adarshapara, Halima Khatun and Bilkis Akter of Baharampur and Taslima Khatun of Naodagram.
There are others too, like Achhiya Khatun of Talsar, Nasima Khatun of Gurpara, Kazali Khatun of Bakhsipur, Jahura Begum and Riya Khatun of Phulbari, Riya Khatun and Sagari Khatun of Baluhar, Nishi Khatun of T and T Para, Masura Khatun and Yasmin Khatun of Manikdihi, Roksana Khatun of Balamnagar, Madhu Khatun of Kagmari and  Noorjahan Khatun, Tahmina Khatun and Kabita Khatun of Jagdispur village of Kotchandpur upazila.
Their stories are of sorrow and pathos. The main reason behind their ill fate was the curse of dowry.
Nishi Khatun, Tahmina Khatun and others said their husbands and in-laws used to torture them physically and mentally on the slightest pretext when they failed to get dowry from their parents.
Their husbands finally divorced them by uttering "talaq" thrice.
The 35 women at the upazila parishad complex at Kotchandpur said they are now happy. They are undergoing 15-day training courses in cottage industry, handicrafts, boutique, sewing and other similar work.
The women are confident about their future as they now see a ray of hope. The department of women affairs provide skilled training to the destitute young women, aged between 16 and 20.
The trainees hope to open a modern showroom, named ‘Women’s World’, at the upazila headquarters at Kotchandpur soaon. Most of the 35 women were victims of child marriage and dowry.
The upazila women affairs officer at Kotchandpur, Munshi Feroja Sultana, said on visiting each village of the upazila, she found that most of the women from the poor families were married off at a very early age. They became victims of dowry and divorce. It was a curse both for the victims and also for society.
Realising the immense sufferings, she took up the matter with the upazila parishad chairman and upazila nirbahi officer at Kotchandpur. She also discussed the issue with the deputy commissioner at the district headquarters.
Finally, she was able to arrange a skill training course for self-employment of the 35 women.Women’s World will be a platform for the uplift of these women. It will encourage other women to go ahead.
The initiatives will also regain the dignity of the women and build their socio-economic base, Munshi Feroja Sultana said.Any allocation for the annual development project (ADP) could play a vital role in hastening the process of betterment of the women, the upazila women affairs officer believes.