The mompreneurs who turn ashes to gold
Across small businesses, women are building lives where motherhood and ambition can exist side by side
In another life, I wish my mother and I had not met. I wish she never became my mom. I wish she could first get acquainted with herself, live a free life – one where she could be in love with my dad and not have to worry about her four kids at home.
I wish she got to travel the world, build her own life brick by brick and not have to be tied to anything that weighed her down. Mum too was a writer and a poet. She wanted to pursue higher education, be an independent woman with a job that afforded a simple life she could share with whomever she pleased. She too was once a young girl with hopes and dreams.
I often found myself apologising to Mum for having to give all that up and resort to home-making. But she shut me up at the mere thought of it and said, "My children are my dream."
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Mum is one of millions who compromised while trying to balance the juggle that comes with choosing oneself.
But mums now know you can't serve from an empty vessel.
One must fill her own cups till they runneth over, for only then it is possible to share with others, and not just keep on serving.
Today is a special day. Although this homage goes all year round. This is a day we dedicate to mums all over the world.
The soul of this year's celebration is "The Great Unburdening" – a theme that resonates on a cellular level. A mother, for she is burdened, must be set free, free to fly, free to run, and free to earn.
The work a mother does at home is often regarded as "non-work". A term so demoralising that we all scoff at. A mother's day knows no drawing of curtains at the day's end, her work knows no bounds, her contribution to the world is merely endless.
I met with a few moms today and they all echoed the same. It is their sole purpose to have a signature and an identity of her own, something that coexists with her responsibilities at home and toward her children rather than separating it as an entity that discards the family.
TARA honours mothers driving change
In celebration of Mother's Day, BRAC Bank's TARA platform partnered with Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan to host The Motherhood Movement – an experience-led initiative recognising mothers as entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers.
The day-long event featured a "Mother's Market" showcasing products from 30 women-led brands, an interactive leadership session on Balancing Business & Motherhood, and the Inspiring Mothers Awards, honouring outstanding "mompreneurs" for their resilience and innovation.
Speaking on the initiative, Natasha Kadir, senior manager at BRAC Bank TARA, said the collaboration aimed to create visibility and opportunity for women entrepreneurs while fostering community and professional networking.
She highlighted that TARA supports women through specialised banking services tailored to personal and business needs, alongside capacity-building support and financial solutions for entrepreneurs in the retail and SME sectors.
Through such efforts, the platform seeks to strengthen women's economic independence and long-term growth.
Empowering motherhood thru financial independence
For Ainun Nahar, owner of a dry-food corner Trinomul Karu Panna, motherhood is more than a personal milestone; it is a profound responsibility that shapes a child's identity. She believes that every mother should strive to build her own identity so that her children can speak of her with pride.
According to her, while housework is demanding, it often lacks economic recognition, leading many women to feel as though they "do nothing". By engaging in business – such as her work with homemade foods and handicrafts – she finds the recognition and voice that domestic labor alone often does not provide.
Balancing professional life with motherhood requires immense coordination, from preparing school tiffins to managing daily family needs, Ainun says. Despite these challenges, Ainun emphasizes that the self-confidence gained from financial independence provides a unique inner strength. Having her own income allows her to support her husband, children, and her own parents without being entirely dependent on others. She encourages all mothers to pursue a vocation, stating, "We will manage our households and raise our children, but we should also do something [for ourselves]".
Ainun's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to perseverance. She started her work in 2003. Modest roots began with just Tk2,000, which she saved in a clay bank. Today, she is a national award-winning successful entrepreneur who exports local products to international markets.
Before embarking on her entrepreneurial path, Kaniz Dalia dedicated 12 years to the teaching profession, working at an English-medium school and college. She eventually transitioned into the business world, initially launching a boutique page called Neelamborir Kabbo before expanding into the organic food sector with DMart.
Her organic line is deeply rooted in her heritage, specifically from the Patuakhali district near Kuakata.
Kaniz has achieved notable success through the World Bank's accelerator programme. Out of a thousand entrepreneurs, she was selected for the "growth/startup" stage for her innovation in tamarind pickle and sauce processing. Her work has been presented to government ministers, and she is a recipient of a compliance grant intended for business scaling. Currently, she operates a physical outlet in Mohammadpur.
Her story speaks of resilience and social vision. Following the sudden loss of her husband, Kaniz has turned her business into her primary focus to support her son, a student at Residential Model College.
She offers powerful advice to other women. She urges women of all ages, mothers and daughters alike, to establish their own identity rather than staying idle. She believes that being economically empowered ensures a woman is never ignored and remains a vital, respected part of her household.
Rachel Bernadette's Cosmic Candle Collections is driven by a philosophy of upcycling and "soul content". The brand offers wellness products designed for both restoration and daily use, including specialised salts – these can be used for professional-style pedicures at home or as a "mini bath" for both children and adults. She also focuses on candles and soaps for fragrance and restoration and her products are designed for the office and the car to help restore one's environment.
She pledges a commitment to the environment as sustainability is at the heart of her business. Rachel actively encourages her customers to be mindful of waste, asking them, "Please don't throw away bottles – bring them back, and I will recycle them". This allows her to create products with customised flavours and scents while minimising her environmental footprint.
When asked how she balances being a mother and a business owner, she attributes her success to the "magic moments" in life and the support system that has helped her become who she is today.
Tania Siddike operates the brand Day Dream, which bridges the gap between natural wellness and traditional artistry. Her business is built on two primary pillars – organic wellness, which is a product line featuring hair oils, hair packs, face packs, and pure coconut oil as well as handmade artistry with a collection of 100% handcrafted items, including bespoke bags, children's clothing, traditional bangles, and dream catchers.
Tania draws a direct parallel between parenting and entrepreneurship. She believes that just as mothers nurture and raise their children, entrepreneurs must "feed and foster" their businesses to help them grow.
She notes that being a "mother-entrepreneur" requires significant courage, as it involves the daring task of creating original products from scratch while balancing family responsibilities.
The stories of these women reveal a quiet but powerful shift: mothers are no longer choosing between caregiving and selfhood.
Across kitchens, craft tables, online stores and small businesses, women are building lives where motherhood and ambition can exist side by side – not in conflict, but in collaboration.
