From Losing Everything to Building Something New: Baki Billah’s Journey of Resilience and Renewal

Life in Dhaka was not what MD. Baki Billah had envisioned. Working at a specs shop provided him with a stable income, enough to support his family, but it was far from his dream. Still, it was something he could rely on—until one day, it was not. When the shop owner sold the business, Baki found himself lost in the fast-paced chaos of the capital. The future he had worked toward disappeared in an instant, leaving him stranded in a city that suddenly felt unfamiliar.

 

“I wasn’t prepared,” Baki reflects, recounting those difficult days. “I went from shop to shop looking for work, but the low wages couldn’t support my family.” The weight of uncertainty pressed down on him as he faced the reality of unemployment in Dhaka.

 

For many, this might have been the breaking point. But for Baki, it was the beginning of something new. With few options left in Dhaka, he made a bold decision: he returned to his village in Ullapara, Sirajganj. It was a step that required courage, but it also offered the chance to start over.

 

“Returning home wasn’t easy,” Baki admits. “But when I got back, I saw that there was potential here to build something of my own.”

 

In Ullapara, Baki saw an opportunity—a chance to meet the needs of young women in his community who had limited access to affordable, fashionable clothing. He envisioned a clothing business that could provide stylish options to girls and women aged 9 to 20 years old, at prices that would not break the bank. But starting this business required more than just a vision. He needed resources, and that’s when he found Grameen Trust.

 

Through their Nobin Uddokta Program, Baki was able to secure a small loan to open his clothing shop. But financial support was not the only thing he received. 

 

In October 2022, Grameen Trust joined forces with Impact Hub Dhaka (IHD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to empower over 6,000 entrepreneurs, including Baki, from marginalized communities in 25 districts across Bangladesh through training in digital business transformation and financial literacy. IHD’s training sessions based on ILO’s modules at Grameen Trust’s design labs, provided him with training in financial management—skills that would prove essential as he embarked on his new venture.

 

“The financial management training was crucial,” Baki shares. “It helped me understand how to handle my business finances, and that’s something that will be important as I grow.”

 

And he did. What started as a small clothing shop in Ullapara quickly gained traction. Baki’s commitment to offering quality clothing at affordable prices attracted customers, and soon, his business became a staple in the community. But Baki did not stop there. His sights were set on something bigger.

 

Baki began exploring ways to expand his business beyond Ullapara. He started shipping his clothes to different parts of the country, targeting wholesalers who could sell them at a lower cost to customers. His ambition was not just to run a successful local shop—it was to scale up his business and make his mark on a national level.

 

“I want to expand my business landscape further,” Baki says. “Shipping my products across the country is the next step, and the skills I’ve learned from Grameen Trust will play a vital role in making that happen.”

 

Baki’s journey from the uncertainty of Dhaka to the promise of Ullapara is a story of resilience. It’s a story of seeing opportunity where others might see defeat. He turned his back on the struggle of finding work in the capital and instead chose to create work for himself—and for his community.

 

When asked what advice he would give to others facing similar challenges, Baki’s words reflect the wisdom of experience: “Stay resilient. Keep looking for opportunities, even if it means starting from scratch. With determination and the right support, you can create something successful.”

 

Baki’s leap of faith did not just change his own life—it brought new possibilities to Ullapara. His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the path forward is found not in moving away from your roots, but in returning to them.