There is a saying that if you genuinely ask the Almighty for something, He will provide it to you in one way or another. So, I firmly held onto this hope and prayed relentlessly, and finally, He provided me. Riya Footwear is my own little achievement, and to establish it, I was on a journey full of struggles. No word, in any language, will ever express the insufferable amount of pain I had to go through in order to become who I am today. 

I started my career in this same industry before building my own business from scratch. But guess when my career began? I was only in grade 5 when I was forced to make my way in this industry due to my family’s financial crisis. While all my friends went on to complete their education, I was working tirelessly every day to make ends meet. I realized how dreadful our financial status had become when we could barely afford to eat one meal a day. Being the eldest son in the family, I knew it was my responsibility to ensure my family’s well-being. 

Sometime around the year 2000, I started working at my brother-in-law’s business. This is where I learned all my work and strived to gather a lot of experience and knowledge. The business was going well until 2004 when similar products from China were being imported and soon became widespread. This affected the shoe industry to the point where our local products lost their demand. The business kept deteriorating and my brother-in-law suffered a stroke and passed away. 

This is when I felt lost and confused more than ever in my life. So, approximately after 4 more years of hurdles and exhaustive work, I was finally able to set up Riya Footwear in 2008 in Bhairab. I started this new chapter of my life by securing BDT 50,000, along with some old machinery, furniture, and tools I found at the factory I previously worked in. Around this time, there was a person in our village close to my heart with whom I would share everything; starting from family issues to problems related to my career. She was my biggest supporter through thick and thin and everybody in our village knew we would marry each other someday. But life is cruel and took a different turn for both of us. 

While I had just begun my life’s harrowing journey to establish my business, it was her time to get married. Eloping was not an option as I was the eldest in my family, and she was the eldest in hers. Furthermore, we both had younger siblings and we knew we had to be exemplary for them. Neither of us wanted them to suffer because of any reckless decision that we take.  So we mutually decided to remain, friends, till I could become financially independent. Not being able to see her was an indescribable pain so I gave all my might and poured my heart and soul into Riya Footwear. Slowly, but surely, my business started seeing the light. If I earned BDT 20, I would provide half to my family, and invest the remaining half into my business. 

Gradually, the state of our financial condition improved. I invested more into my younger brother’s education and even managed to buy some land back in my village and created an environment worth living in. As my business improved further, the person I was with asked if I was ready to get married. I knew if I were to say yes, this would get me back to where I started. There was nothing I could do and as I stood there helplessly, I watched the love of my life get married to someone else. 

Although I was heartbroken, I had no time to waste. I had accepted my fate long back and so I got married in 2012 and now have 4 kids. I solely focused on my business and how to advance it and now, one step at a time, I started doing better mentally and financially. Initially, I manufactured simpler products, and as I started getting more confident with my work, I went on to manufacture products of higher quality. I don’t sell in the Bhairab market, instead, I have contracts with 4 local companies based in Dhaka, Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Jessore. 

I am always thinking of ways to expand my business, and how to make it better and more efficient. I know I am a poor man’s son who does not even have an education, so if I don’t hold on to my business, then I will be left with nothing. I strongly believe that even if I persevere through life and still manage to find some happiness and success in it, then I will always feel blessed. I consider myself lucky to be acquainted with LightCastle Partners and will forever remain grateful for their help and support. Since I am always motivated to improve my business, being affiliated with LightCastle boosted my confidence. My only dream in life is to see my business achieve more limelight and recognition. As I lost the most valuable thing while trying to establish Riya Footwear, this business has now become my everything.