Once a popular student leader of Syedpur College, Belaluddin Shah was passing hard days after passing BA examination in 1993.

Hailing from Digoldangi village in Songolshi union of Sadar upazila, Belal had to shoulder the responsibility of the family of his marginal farmer father, Gamirullah Shah just after his sudden death. Belal moved from one office to another office in search of a job, but in vain.

When he was completely frustrated, one of his college friends came to his rescue. Shoel Choudhury of WAPDA Nayahut area in Syedpur municipality was possessing six plastic pot dice machines. But he could not make good use of the machines because he was preoccupied with other activities. It was 1998 when he gave the dice machines to Belal and advised him to get established in life by taking the opportunity. But he gave Belal a condition. Once Belal becomes established in life, he will have to pay 12,000 taka in six installments as price of Sohel's six dice machines. Belal agreed.

"I got a new life. Sohel was a friend in need," said Belal highly appreciating his friend's noble gesture.

When this correspondent asked him to tell his success story, he narrated this way, "I had a piece of land at East Botlagari village with a good communication system with Syedpur and other towns. I decided to set up many mini workshop here with a small capital. I also took power connection to operate my machines," he said. "I inspired poor women, old people and some takais to collect waste polythenes and broken plastic pots from dustbins and heaps of waste," Belal continued.

"I began to purchase the waste materials at the cost of 4-6 taka per kg, according to the quality which enabled each supplier to earn 50-80 taka per day, he went on saying.

"My workers washed, dried and melted the polythenes in drums to produce solid polythene lumps. Then the lumps were cut into pieces to produce containers of tooth power, prickle, ointment, cosmetic through the dice machines," described smiling Belal.

"I took no bank loan from bank or any non-governmental organisation (NGO)," Belal said. At first Belal employed five labourers. He also worked like a labourer. By dint of his great labour, patience and determination, Belal succeeded to repay the price of six dice machines in installments by the year 2001. At present Belal is the owner of 19 dice machines. Now 40 labourers work in two shifts in his workshop, built of bricks instead of thatched house.

Belal also told this correspondent that each of his labourer earned 50-60 taka a day. There are also six female labourers for the finising work, six women workers for washing and drying the waste polythene. The female workers earn 40 taka each daily.

Belal disclosed that from this business he maintains his family of four members in a nice way. He also purchased cultivable lands. " This way I also help protect environment," Belal said. He time and again expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his friend Sohel for whom he changed his lot.