Six visually impaired DU students run businesses to fund studies
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Six visually impaired students from Dhaka University (DU) are running small businesses to fund their education and support their families, setting a unique example of resilience.
Monirul Islam lost his sight shortly after birth, a tragedy that led to his grief-stricken father's passing. Guided by his mother, Monirul completed his schooling and enrolled at Dhaka University. Facing a financial crisis upon arrival, he started a clothing business together with a classmate. Despite numerous challenges, the business sustained his education through to his master's degree. Today, he manages expenses for both his mother and sister. Monirul notes that while earnings fluctuate significantly from day to day, the overwhelming support from fellow DU students keeps him going.
Shahgahan Gazi shares a similar journey. Having lost his parents at an early age, he was raised by his grandfather. A severe bout of typhoid later cost him his vision, and in 2017, his grandfather also passed away. Overcoming these hurdles, Shahgahan secured admission to the Department of Islamic History and Culture at DU in 2023. To cover his educational costs, he began a small venture that now generates a steady monthly income, largely supported by his peers.
The publication Agamir Somoy identified four other visually impaired DU students taking the same path. Among them is Moniruzzaman, a completely blind student who recently completed his master's degree from the same department. Unable to secure a job after graduation, he set up a small table near Mall Chattar, selling daily necessities like toothbrushes and nail cutters late into the night.
Another graduate, Mir Azizul Haque Apon, runs a similar setup near the Bijoy Ekattor Hall gate. Despite passing the primary school teacher recruitment exam in 2022, Apon claims he was denied the position due to quota discrepancies, and corporate doors remained shut due to his visual impairment. His small business is now his sole source of income, built on the mutual trust of the students who purchase from him.
Two other students, Suman from the Department of World Religions and Culture, and Russel Howlader from Political Science, are also financing their studies through small-scale trade.
Rather than succumbing to their circumstances, these six students chose entrepreneurship over dependency. Looking ahead, they aspire to expand their businesses and create employment opportunities, aiming to build a future where no one is turned away from a job because of a visual impairment.
