Financial inclusion makes each stitch stronger for Najira

By Md. Masum Bellal

For generations, weaving fabric on the loom has been a family tradition for Najira. She grew up assisting her father and brother, gradually mastering the craft. These deep-rooted knowledge and skills gave her the strength and confidence to manage her own loom from her home.

In Bangladesh, traditional handloom Lungi weaving is now limited to only a few areas. A lungi is a traditional, comfortable garment worn mainly by men in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, made of a rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the waist.

The village of Chaskiya in Atghoria Upazila, Pabna district, is one such place, known for producing a unique type of Lungi called ‘Chaskiya Khotkhoti Tanter Lungi’ or ‘Metho Tanter Lungi.’

Najira, a handloom weaver from Chaskiva, has been using her expertise to preserve this tradition.

Despite facing challenges, Najira courageously took up handlooming to provide for herself and her child. The hardships of her life seemed to begin with her birth into a poor family, followed by becoming a victim of child marriage and getting pregnant shortly after marriage.

However, the darkest chapter of her life started when her husband abandoned her just a month and a half into her pregnancy. From that moment, her struggles intensified, growing as dark and consuming as a moonless night.

But upon facing this harsh reality, Najira persisted. She turned her childhood hobby into her profession—a craft she once practiced solely to help her father and brother.

Najira had limited formal education, but her determination never wavered. In 2009, BRAC’s microfinance program provided her with the opportunity to take out a loan that would help her rebuild her life.

Najira took out a Dabi loan, a collateral free microloan given exclusively to low-income women through women’s groups. Dabi loans help these women buy productive assets, invest in business or property, cover expenses like food and education, and manage economic shocks while promoting women’s empowerment in local communities.

She began with a loan of 20,000 BDT (about $170), and has since taken out ten subsequent loans, each helping her to overcome challenges and achieve her goals. She currently holds a loan of 50,000 BDT (about $420).

The rural weaving industry is not without its challenges. While Najira now has the capital, tools, and skills to thrive, she must navigate power dynamics that do not favor female heads of households.

“If I don’t get yarn from the Mahajan, then the Mahajan won’t buy my Lungi,” Najira apa says, explaining that a Mahajan is a term used in South Asia for a traditional moneylender or, in this case, a merchant, who plays a significant role in rural economies. “Moreover, if I make the lungi myself, it’s not possible for me to go to the market and sell it there.”

Despite their skills and hard work, artisans are often deprived of their rightful pricing. Like many in this industry, Najira and others struggle with being unable to effectively link to markets. As a result, they rely on Mahajans to act as intermediaries for financing, and often end up selling their products back to the same intermediaries. 

Najira sits in her home with her mother and her daughter.

Today, Najira lives in her own home with her mother and her only daughter, Sumaiya. She is the sole provider for her family, caring for her mother and raising her daughter with determination.

Najira’s loans have enabled her to purchase land, build a home, meet various family needs, realize small dreams, cover her daughter’s educational expenses, and invest in additional income-generating activities, like raising goats and poultry. Through these investments, she not only improved her own financial situation, but also uplifted her family’s economic standing. She has utilized every loan successfully, helping her establish herself as a skilled micro-entrepreneur. 

BRAC has become an inseparable part of Najira’s life, like a trusted friend. Her love and respect for her BRAC community of fellow women borrowers shines clearly on her face. Since taking out her first loan years ago, Najira has become inspired her to pursue and fulfill her dreams, big and small, at every stage of her life.

Najira did not have a formal education herself, but through her difficult journey, she is working hard to educate her daughter and ensure that she completes her education before getting married and reaching adulthood.

Najira expressed, “The mistakes I made, I won’t let them happen to my daughter. That’s why I am educating her. I want to make her self-reliant so that she can build her own life.”

Najira’s daughter is studying in 9th grade. When asked what she aspires to be, Sumaiya replied with a smile, “I want to become a doctor.”

Najira understands the challenges that come with a lack of education, and is determined to provide her daughter with the opportunities she never had. She believes that by equipping her daughter with the necessary knowledge and skills, Sumaiya can avoid the hardships of Najira’s own past and forge a brighter future.

Najira and her daughter, Sumaiya, practice their family’s craft together.

Sumaiya’s dream and the future of the weaving craft seem intertwined like invisible threads. On one hand, her aspiration to become a doctor symbolizes a hopeful change for her family. On the other hand, Najira’s relentless effort to uphold the traditional craft reflects her determination to preserve their heritage.

Najira’s perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit have not only allowed her to secure a livelihood, but also inspired others in her community. Her story reflects the strength and dedication of countless women working to preserve their cultural heritage and build prosperous futures for their families and communities. 

Do you know Aarong?

BRAC opened what’s now Bangladesh’s largest fashion chain, Aarong, in 1978. Fighting to uphold the dignity of marginalized women, this chic brand began as a humble project to provide employment for a limited number of rural women through silk production and the art of nakshikantha, or embroidered quilts. Aarong extended its support to rural artisans by investing in their handicrafts for several years into its operations. In the process, it saw the emergence of independent producers and created income generating opportunities for thousands of artisans from communities beyond the reach of BRAC. Weaving together new opportunities for people with the skilled work of their artisans, Aarong has carved out a unique market segment, giving hope and important income to the crafters. Today, Aarong sells all over the world, including in the US. To browse or even buy your own Lungi, visit Aarong.

Md. Masum Bellal is Deputy Manager for BRAC Microfinance, Bangladesh.