A sip of inspiration

Muhammad Nazmul Hossain completed his primary education in Shariatpur and came to the capital city after completing his SSC to study in University of Dhaka, with a dream to make something of himself. 

"I had to do something besides my studies as my expenses were proving to be a handful," shares Nazmul. "I started tutoring, but my exams would clash with that of my students. At the end of 2016, I started a mobile recharge outlet in Mirpur, but the location was too far away and the time and dedication I had to put in took a toll on my studies."

Like every responsible son, Nazmul did not want to burden his family. He spoke to a few of his friends and brainstormed ideas that would allow him to earn daily. Eventually, he thought of opening a tea stall at his campus.

"I told my family I was starting something but they didn't know what it was for about six months," he claims. "I understood that selling tea would not only allow me to get a grasp on my time and how to allocate it, but also provide me with enough earnings daily."

However, Nazmul had to overcome many challenges on the way. "Initially, I got a cart from a man who owed me. It was a big boost," says Nazmul. "I just needed to get it painted and ready but the day I planned to paint it, it got stolen, and that was devastating." In his time of need, some of Nazmul's closest friends stood by his side and helped him to set up his business.  "A friend of mine, who was initially against the idea of a tea stall, carried the new cart to the campus, and that kind of support really gave me the strength," smiles Nazmul.

Today, the former tea stall owner has taken a new route in his life. He makes his daily earnings as a rider for Pathao, the popular ride-sharing platform. "People like me are my biggest inspiration. There are many students in our campus who work hard every day to fulfill their dreams," smiles Nazmul.