This quote perfectly captures the spirit of Abdul Jalil, a determined and resilient beneficiary of the business development training program supported by IOM-PROTTYASHI.
On March 22, 2021, a devastating fire that started in Camp 8W spread rapidly to Camp 8E, 9, and 10, also affecting adjacent host communities. Among the many who lost everything that day, Abdul Jalil, a 60-year-old father of three who lived near Camp 9 was one of them. A man who had already faced adversity early in life after losing his father, Jalil had been supporting his family through a small transport business. However, the fire destroyed his assets, home, and means of income, leaving him emotionally shattered and hospitalized for an extended period.
Returning to the camp after the incident, Abdul Jalil and his family struggled to secure even a full meal each day. Life became a daily battle for survival, with no stable income or hope—until IOM-PROTTYASHI intervened through the project titled “Resilience Building Interventions for Fire-Affected People.”
Selected as a project beneficiary, Abdul Jalil received BDT 14,500 in support along with intensive training, mentoring, and coaching on business development. During the training sessions, he began to see a path forward. He decided to revive his transport business, which had come to a halt after the fire. He still had a mini truck, but its tires were damaged. While he managed to buy two tires with a loan, he needed two more to make the truck fully operational.
With guidance from the project team, Abdul Jalil developed a business plan and requested truck tires as part of his input support. The project responded positively, and with the new tires provided through the program, he was able to resume his transport services.
Today, his business is gradually thriving. He is once again able to support his family, feed his children, and restore a sense of stability to their lives. His children are now healthy and attending college—a testament to how far the family has come.
“Alhamdulillah, I am stable now. With the support of IOM and PROTTYASHI, I was able to restart my business and take care of my family. My children are eating well and no longer suffering. My business is growing—thank you, IOM-PROTTYASHI,” Abdul Jalil shared, a smile lighting up his face.
This is not just a story of recovery, but a story of renewed hope and a second chance at life.
