In the remote village of Khamarpara Chandipur, located in Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga district, Saifa Khatun’s life took a challenging turn at the tender age of 16. Financial constraints forced her to drop out of school and she was married off to Md. Monir Uddin Sheikh. However, her new life was marked by even greater economic struggle, as her husband lacked a stable income. At one point, Monir Uddin inherited 25 decimals of ancestral land. However, due to his lack of agricultural experience, the land remained unproductive and added little to their income.
Observing local market trends, she identified a niche in the hair processing trade. Starting with minimal resources, she began buying and selling raw discarded hair. The potential was clear but to scale, she needed capital. After a determined search, she connected with WAVE Foundation’s Darsana Unit, where she received her first loan of BDT 50,000/- under the microfinance program. More than just financial support, WAVE provided business mentoring, capacity building and regular follow-up to strengthen her skills in enterprise management. Over 7 loan cycles, Saifa expanded her business exponentially. Today, in her 8th phase, she has received a loan of BDT 50 lacs. Saifa’s business has grown beyond local markets, she now exports processed hair internationally. On global expansion she said, ‘I came from a place with no paved roads but today my products travel the world because WAVE believed in me’.
What began as a survival strategy is now a flagship business, achieving several key milestones:
- Boosted her monthly revenue from BDT 25,000 to BDT 5 Crore, generating a monthly profit of about BDT 10 lacs.
- Created employment for 200-250 marginalized women in her village.
- With global integration, she exports hair extensions/wigs to China and imports raw hair from countries like India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Saifa now mentors 20 aspiring women entrepreneurs in her community while planning to expand processing capacity by 40% in 2025 and obtain international quality certification. Saifa’s entrepreneurial journey has emerged as a scalable model for women in border districts like Chuadanga, empowering them to enter the mainstream of the multi-billion-dollar global wig trade.
