She earned about Tk 15,00 in last five days by making garments at home.

She was busy sewing garments while talking to this correspondent at her small house at Akhaura.

She said the sewing machine given by the Prothom Alo Bondhu Sabha has changed their life. She is the only earning member for her old mother, two younger brothers and a minor sister. They had hard days since her father died some years back.

There are 17 other distressed women like Sharmin who are dreaming good days with sewing machines given by the Prothom Alo Bondhu Sabha. The machines were given on November 2 so that they can make good use of those ahead of the Eif-ul-Fitr. They were trained in sewing and tailoring earlier.

Jahura Begum said she earned Tk 650 by this time. Rina Bagum and Shahana Akter are two other recipients. The machines were given at the initiative of the Akhaura unit of the Bondhu Sabha.

All of tem said they hope to earn handsome amounts till the Eid.

They are sewing garments on orders from traders and also from people in the area.

They were all distressed. But things will change now, they said.

Talking to this correspondent, Prothom Alo Bandhusava Akhaura unit President Prof Kamal Uddin said they trained the distressed women and then gave the machines.

Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md Jahirul Haque was the chief guest at the simple function when the machines were handed over.

Akhaura Paurasabha Chairman Md Nurul Haque Buiyan, Upazila Nirbhi Officer Md Mezbah Uddin Chowdhuay, Akhaura Press Club President Md Yousuf Sarkar, Akhaura Reporters Unity President Md Manik Mia and Prothom Alo Akhaura Correspondent Dulal Ghus were also present at the function.