Decent work, brighter futures: Roksana’s journey with shell crafts

On the edge of Cox’s Bazar town, in a small village called Chan Khola, lives Roksana Akhter, a woman whose life is shaped by both hardship and courage. But her life hadn’t always been so hard.

30 September 2025

Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh -  She was married at sixteen to Abdus Shukur, a carpenter whose hands could shape wood into wonderful things. Their small home was filled with the simple joys of a growing family. They had two sons, and their laughter was the sweetest music in Roksana’s ears.

But six years ago, that music stopped. Cancer, a cruel and silent thief, stole her husband from her, leaving Roksana a widow with two young boys, then just nine and seven years old. The world suddenly felt vast and empty. The weight of providing for her children fell entirely on her shoulders.

With no other choice, she had to make a heartbreaking decision. Her sons, the centre of her universe, had to leave school. The dream of education was replaced by the harsh reality of survival. To put food on the table, Roksana began working as a domestic help in other people’s houses. Each day was a struggle, a battle against despair.

"It felt like the sea had washed away all my dreams," Roksana remembers, her voice soft. "My only prayer was for my children. How could I give them a future when I could barely manage today?"

Then, in May 2023, a small ray of hope pierced through the clouds. The ISEC project team came to her village. They didn't just come to give instructions; they came to listen. They sat with the community, heard their stories, and understood their struggles. Through this careful process, Roksana was identified as someone who, with the right support, could change her own destiny.

This was the beginning of her new journey. Roksana was selected for BRAC's Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme. She was given assets to start her own shell craft business, a perfect enterprise for a woman living by the sea. Along with the shimmering shells and raw materials, she received a goat, a living, growing investment. But the support was more than that. It was a complete toolkit for success. 

  A simple bucket of shells holds the promise of change, the raw materials Roksana turns into a livelihood and a future for her children             © ILO/Humayun Kabir Khan

Today, Roksana is no longer a domestic help. She is an entrepreneur. Her small business, selling beautiful crafts made from the treasures of the sea, has blossomed. Her single goat has now become three. She has a flock of 20 chickens, has leased a small plot of land, and has even bought a young calf. With growing confidence, she has taken a small loan of 50,000 taka to expand her enterprise further. 

But the most precious profit cannot be measured in any amount of money. The joy of studying has returned to her home. Her eldest son, now 15, is back in school in Class 8, and helps his mum with the business after his studies. Her younger son, 13, has also returned to his books and is now in Class 5. Their futures, once dark and uncertain, are now bright with promise. 

Before, my hands were for cleaning other people's homes. Now, my hands create beautiful things. I am the owner of my own business. With these hands, I will build my sons' futures.

Roksana Akhter

  The greatest return on Roksana’s hard work: her two sons are back in school, chasing the dreams their mother never gave up on.                      © ILO/Humayun Kabir Khan

Roksana’s dream for the future is as wide as the ocean in front of her. She plans to educate her two sons so they can become "boro officers" (high-ranking officials) in Bangladesh. And for herself, she pictures a proper, beautiful shop right on the famous Cox's Bazar sea beach, a permanent testament to her journey from tears to treasure.