The Journey of Kamrunnaher Lipi and NAREENETRA KARUPANYA
Netrakona, the vibrant region in central Bangladesh, known for its diverse landscape which includes haors, rivers, canals, wetlands, water bodies, and hills, is located at the foothills of the Garo mountains. The people of this district are historically creative, enterprising, and talented. In this spirited community, a determined and resilient woman entrepreneur, Kamrunnaher Lipi, founded Nareenetra Karupanya in 2008.
Starting with only one borrowed sewing machine, the venture has grown to directly support over 150 people and indirectly serve the livelihoods of around 6,500 people.
Kamrunnaher Lipi, the founder and proprietor of Nareenetra Karupanya and the executive director of Nareenetra Unnayan Samiti (NUS) is one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the greater Mymensingh region. Over the past 16 years, she and her Nareenetra Karupanya have collaborated with over a hundred domestic and international buyers.
Over the past decade and a half, under Lipi’s skilled leadership, Nareenetra Karupanya has become a beacon of hope, confidence, and inspiration for women entrepreneurs in central Bangladesh. In recognition of her contributions to empowering women at the grassroots level, she and her organization have received national awards and have been honored for their achievements.
The Indomitable Lipi and the Weaving of Her Dreams
Kamrunnaher Lipi was born in Anantapur village, located in Netrakona Sadar Upazila. She is the fifth among nine siblings. Growing up in a household supported by the modest income of her schoolteacher father, Kamrunnaher Lipi became familiar with the harsh realities of poverty and hardship at a young age.
Despite the challenges, she continued her education, but after completing her H.S.C. (Higher Secondary Certificate), she was forced to discontinue her regular studies. To share some of the family’s financial burden, she joined a private organization in 2004, earning a monthly salary of 600 BDT. Her dedication and hard work were recognized, and by 2008, her salary increased to 3,000 BDT per month.
However, she realized that it was impossible to fulfill her dreams of living with dignity while working in a dependent job. Driven by determination, Lipi decided to create something of her own.
With that mindset, she left her job in 2008. Lipi borrowed a sewing machine from a well-wisher she knew. With no money and relying only on the sewing training she had once received, she embarked on the struggle to realize her dreams. Believing in collective progress, Lipi trained five other women from her community in sewing.
The Beginning of the Journey
During a visit to Netrakona town for some work, Lipi noticed children’s izar pants being sold at low prices on the pavement. Curious, Lipi inquired with the shopkeeper about the manufacturer of these pants.
After gathering the manufacturer’s address, she went to meet them and convinced an order to make 100 pairs of pants at a rate of two BDT per piece. For the next six months, she worked for that factory, earning two BDT for each pair of pants she made. With the 800 BDT she saved from this job, she decided to start making and selling pants on her own.
She bought ten kilograms of fabric from Keraniganj in Dhaka and began the second battle to fulfill her dreams. This time, by selling the pants, she earned a profit of 2,500 BDT. From then on, there was no looking back for her or her venture, Nareenetra Karupanya. Her belief in her abilities propelled her and her fellow women forward, taking them far on their journey.
The Expedition
In 2010, the government of Bangladesh banned the use of polythene bags. Innovative Kamrunnaher Lipi began producing eco-friendly alternatives made of tissue fabric. She initially connected with various organizations in the district town and started producing tissue bags according to their needs.
In the same year, a brand shop named Tuku Ali Mura from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, contacted Lipi regarding a demand for customized tissue fabric bags. In 2011 and 2012, she received a large order to produce customized jute bags for outlets of the Bangladeshi chain superstore ‘Shwapno’s Italian franchise. These marked Lipi and her venture, Nareenetra Karupanya, stepping onto the international stage.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, under the supervision of the World Bank, Kamrunnaher Lipi and her Nareenetra Karupanya played a crucial role in combating the crisis of pandemic essentials by supplying cloth masks, tissue fabric filter masks, surgical masks, and Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) to various regions across the country.
Lipi Believes in Collective Progress
Alongside expanding her business on both national and international platforms, Lipi remained focused on enhancing the skills of her organization’s employees and the women in her community, and the same till now.
With support from the Department of Youth Development of GOB, Kamrunnaher Lipi has provided training to thousands of local women on rearing poultry, cattle, and goats, as well as growing vegetables in their home gardens.
Over 340 adolescent girls have participated in various vocational training programs conducted under the supervision of the United Nations Association (UNA) and Kamrunnaher Lipi. Additionally, she organized courtyard meetings with women from her community, supported by the Germany-based development agency GIZ, where diverse vocational skills training was offered, benefiting at least 1,000 women.
Under Lipi’s guidance, more than 5,000 adolescent girls and women from her area have become self-reliant through training programs in sewing, screen printing, block printing, and batik work.
Despite being deprived of regular education opportunities due to financial constraints, Lipi not only became self-sufficient but also, driven by her indomitable willpower, completed her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognized private university in Bangladesh. Inspired by Lipi, many workers at Nareenetra Karupannya, who had once abandoned their studies under the pressure of poverty, have returned to formal education.
Commitment to the Nature
Kamrunnaher Lipi and her Nareenetra Karupannya are highly conscious of maintaining environmental and ecological balance.
The factories she operates are fully eco-friendly and utilize advanced technology. These worker-friendly and community-friendly factories are beautifully designed with an emphasis on greening and sustainability.
Out of a sense of responsibility toward the environment, Lipi regularly organizes tree planting and maintenance in and around the factory premises. She has also raised awareness among local women about the use of eco-friendly and energy-efficient stoves called ‘Bondhu Chula’.
Lipi’s Leadership Influencing Many
Kamrunnaher Lipi has nurtured many entrepreneurs, with a significant number growing under her guidance. Her intellect and leadership have made her one of the most popular entrepreneurs at both the regional and national levels.
She serves as the Netrakona district representative for the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce. Lipi is a member of WEND (Women Entrepreneurs Network for Development), FBCCI (The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Netrakona NGO Network, Netrakona District NGO Cell, and the Nari Uddyokta Society.
Kamrunnaher Lipi is the representative of the sales center for products made by women entrepreneurs in the Netrakona district. Nareenetra Unnayan Samiti (NUS), an NGO established by Lipi is a member of the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB).
Lipi is also part of the Netrakona District Committee of ADAB (Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh). Under her leadership, Nareenetra Karupannya has received approval from the Ministry of Commerce.
Recognition
In recognition of innovations in the past one and a half decades, Kamrunnaher Lipi has received dozens of regional and national honors and awards.
She has been awarded and honored by the Department of Women Affairs and the Department of Youth Development of the Government of Bangladesh along with numerous non-governmental organizations.
In 2014, she was awarded the ‘Shreshtha Joyeeta Award’ in the ‘Joyeeta Anweshone Bangladesh’ initiative by the Department of Women Affairs, securing first place in the economic category at the divisional level in Dhaka Division.
During the Bangladesh-India Friendship Conference in 2021, held in celebration of Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Victory, she was honored with the ‘Maitree Award’ (2021).
In 2022, Kamrun Nahar Lipi won the ‘Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award’ (2022), a very prestigious national award in Bangladesh to recognize and uplift youth bodies’ participation in philanthropic and voluntary actions.