By Anjana

Anjana’s life has been a tapestry of joy, hardship, and unwavering determination. Growing up in a village in Bangladesh, she cherished her childhood friendships and dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, a series of devastating events—from her father’s financial ruin to her own battle with illness and forced marriage—reshaped her path. Now, as a garment worker and mother of two, Anjana faces daily challenges, from workplace mistreatment to religious discrimination. Yet, through it all, her love for her children and her determination to secure their future keep her fighting for a better life.

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My name is Anjana, and I work as a garment worker. I grew up in a village with my family, and those were some of the happiest days of my life. I can still picture myself walking to school with my friends and spending the rest of the day playing without a care in the world. One of my closest friends from those days is Subarna.

When I was five, Subarna and I would play with dolls every day. Even now, whenever I visit my village, meeting Subarna is always a priority. She holds a special place in my heart, right alongside my family, as one of the most cherished people in my life.

During my childhood, my father earned well, and we never had to worry about money. Life felt secure and happy. But everything changed when I was in the sixth grade. I had gone to stay at my sister’s house for a few days, and when I returned, I was devastated to learn that Subarna, my closest childhood friend, had been forced into child marriage by her parents in exchange for money. Just a few days after her wedding, Subarna confided in me that her husband was abusive and treated her poorly. Every time we spoke, she would break down in tears, and I felt completely powerless to support her.

As a child, I dreamt of becoming a doctor. My father, a businessman in the city, worked hard to support my education and that of my siblings. But our lives took a devastating turn when a fire destroyed his shop, leaving our family in a severe financial crisis. Those were some of the darkest days we faced. With no means to continue, my father could no longer support our education, and I was forced to drop out of school after the sixth grade.

Determined to support my family, I planned to start earning as soon as I was old enough. But before I could, I fell seriously ill. A visit to the doctor revealed that I had a tumor in my stomach. Thankfully, the surgery to remove it was successful, but it brought its own challenges. People in the village began gossiping and making cruel remarks about me, which deeply shook my confidence.

Given the circumstances, my family decided to marry me off. After my wedding, I moved to Dhaka with my husband. Life at my in-laws’ home was far from easy—they often mistreated me, and I had to endure constant hardships. My husband works as a daily wage laborer, and with his meager income, managing the household was incredibly difficult. Despite these challenges, I did everything I could to meet everyone’s needs and keep the family going.

Today, I am a mother to two children—a 12-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son. My life has been full of hardships, but my children are my source of hope and the reason I keep moving forward.

I often find myself realizing that in today’s economy, with prices constantly rising, it’s nearly impossible to support a family of four on a single income. However, since my children were young, I wasn’t able to take up any income-generating work for a long time. Unfortunately, my husband’s income no longer covered basic expenses like house rent, groceries, our children’s education, and medical needs. With my children’s future in mind, I decided to take a job at a garment factory, where I’ve been working as a garment worker for the past year.

At first, I thought a garment factory would be an ideal workplace for women, but I soon realized it comes with its own set of challenges. Every day, I face new struggles at work. Like me, almost all the workers in our factory are mistreated. Senior officials, including the line chief and supervisors, often abuse us with foul language. If a worker makes even a small mistake or fails to meet the production target on time, they insult us in degrading ways, often making offensive remarks about our families. I find this behavior completely unacceptable.

At first, I thought about quitting the job because of the constant mistreatment. But when I considered the future of my son and daughter, I decided to stay and keep going for their sake.

When I first got the job at the garment factory, I was overjoyed. I believed it would be my chance to help support my husband and save for my children’s future. Every day, I work hard and give my best to meet the production targets. But the constant mistreatment takes a toll on my motivation and leaves me feeling drained. Some days, it feels almost impossible to keep going, yet I endure, knowing that my children’s future depends on it.

In addition to the mistreatment I face from management, I also encounter other challenges. Some of my colleagues discriminate against me simply because of my religion. They mock my eating habits, my attire, and my devotion to God. Some even avoid speaking to me altogether. Finding a place to live in Dhaka is also a struggle, as many landlords refuse to rent to us. These experiences often leave me feeling both sad and isolated.

Since starting this job, I haven’t been able to spend enough time with my children. Sometimes, when I feel upset, I unknowingly take it out on them. Although my husband and I work tirelessly, we have no savings or property. The only treasures we have are our children, for whom we are working relentlessly. We dream of saving enough to secure their future. My husband and I share a common dream: we want our daughter to become a doctor. Since I couldn’t pursue my education or achieve my dream of becoming a doctor, I am determined to help her succeed and fulfill that dream.

Despite all the challenges, there have been moments of true happiness in my life. One of the happiest was when I became a mother to my daughter. Another was when I received my first salary from the garment factory. My children are now my biggest source of inspiration and strength. When I think of the people I hold dearest, it’s always my family and my childhood friend Subarna who come to mind.

Since my childhood, I have been constantly fighting to survive, and I will keep fighting for a better future—for myself and for my children. I am determined to see both my dreams and theirs come true, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.

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Anjana’s story is a part of ‘Labour Sheroes,’ an initiative under the 16 Days of Activism campaign by Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Through this series, we share the stories of women garment workers from South and Southeast Asia who are breaking barriers, fighting against workplace violence and harassment, and leading the change for better working conditions in the global garment industry.