70-year-old Sherjahan Bibi makes ends meet

Almost 70 years of age, Sherjahan Bibi is a mother of 16 happy goats. Even at this age, Sherjahan shows no signs of retiring any time soon. She leaves home in the morning and returns in the evening after a full day's work grazing goats in the fields.

Her sizeable flock started with just one goat 15 years ago. Sherjahan also sold several goats over the years. Her ailing husband, Kadu Miya, also helps her from time to time.

Hailing from the heart of Kishoreganj's wetlands, Sherjahan Bibi manages to make ends meet with her income from goat rearing, including the education expenses of her grandchildren in Boro Hati of Nikli.

Her husband, Kadu Miya, used to be a day labourer. Sherjahan also used to do odd jobs like working as a domestic help. However, at one point, due to their physical limitations, they could no longer do any heavy work. But they did not want to be a burden on the family.

So about 15 years ago, Sherjahan Bibi decided to borrow some money and buy a female goat for Tk 7,000. The goat started giving birth every six months. After raising the goats and selling them, she helped the family with the earnings.

Recently, this correspondent happened upon Sherjahan Bibi as she was grazing her goats by the side of the Karimganj-Nikli road in Majlishpur.

She said, "Every day I leave home with my goats at dawn and return a little before sunset. I tend to them all day."

Asked about her health considering the advanced age, she said, "I'm in good shape because I work all day. If I had stayed at home without working, I would have fallen ill."

Sherjahan Bibi grazes her goats by the side of the Karimganj-Nikli road in Majlishpur. Photo: Star

She said that once their family was in dire straits. But now, besides being self-sufficient from raising goats, she is also helping the family and paying for her two grandchildren's education.

Over the last 15 years, Sherjahan has not only paid off her debts, but she now manages a herd worth almost Tk 2.5 lakh. She says she must have sold goats worth Tk 2-3 lakhs in the meantime.

One of her sons, Ismail Miya, 40, works as a farmhand, and it would have been rather difficult to meet all the household expenses with his income alone. And Sherjahan's income comes in handy. One of her grandchildren is an undergrad student, and another one is about to finish higher secondary studies.

Sherjahan Bibi said she pays for her grandchildren's education with the money she earns from raising goats.

Her husband, Kadu Miya, said, "As I get older, my body is suffering from various ailments. I can't work like before. My wife works hard to raise the goats. When I feel better, I also go and help. Our family runs on the income from selling goats."