Given an opportunity, a determined Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh cooks up a thriving business

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — The woman fled to Bangladesh in 2017, seeking refuge from armed attacks and mass-scale violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar. She sought shelter in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar and began rebuilding her life amid immense challenges.

“I live with my children. My husband is no longer with us. I am the sole provider for my family,” said the woman, now 45.

(UN Women is not using her name for her safety.)

Despite her determination, the woman struggled to make ends meet. She took on various small jobs, but her earnings were never enough to support her family’s needs. Her dream of a better future for her children seemed out of reach.

Things changed when the woman started volunteering with a UN Women project partner, BRAC, a development organization in Bangladesh. This put her on a path towards a stable income and self-reliance.

Today, the woman is the proud of owner of a busy food stall in the Women’s Market in Camp 5. The opportunity was made possible through entrepreneurship training given by BRAC and ActionAid Bangladesh, the local chapter of the International Humanitarian Federation. UN Women supported the training.  

When they ask me how I did it, I tell them that you have to believe in yourself and take that first step, even if it seems scary ...”

“I learned how to manage the kitchen, improve my menu, and understand customer demands,” the woman said. “The market has also become more organized, and I can buy supplies easily and store them securely in a locker.”

What started as a small kitchen in one corner of the Women’s Market grew into a thriving business with a growing base of loyal customers. Slowly but surely, it became profitable, enabling the woman to cover daily expenses, pay her children’s school fees, and support her mother’s medical needs.

The food stall sells Rohingya traditional breakfast and lunch including rice, chicken, vegetables, dal curry and mashed potatoes -- all cooked up by the shop owner herself.

“I want to continue growing my business and maintain the highest standards of quality and hygiene,” she said. “If more women receive the kind of support I did, they too can find the strength to succeed.”

Indeed, her success has inspired other women in the camp to follow in her footsteps.

“When they ask me how I did it, I tell them that you have to believe in yourself and take that first step, even if it seems scary,” she said.

This woman’s journey towards empowerment and independence is a testament to resilience and the transformative impact of being given opportunities.

With funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, and in partnership with UN Women, the Women’s Market in Camp 5 provides a safe and inclusive space designed for the unique needs of women and children.

The market was previously managed by BRAC and now by ActionAid Bangladesh. It has 24 shops, including a clothing store, tailoring services, handicrafts, a stationery shop, a beauty parlour, a grocery store, a women’s canteen, a display corner, and a cosmetics shop. The market also hosts fairs and pop-up events on key special days, when it is open to women vendors from outside the camp. The project was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.