Najma Akhtar of Dhaka, Bangladesh founded Shommilito Garments Sromik Federation: Bangladesh's first women garment workers trade union. Her journey was full of challenges: societal pressures, economic downturns and patriarchal hindrances. She fought through them to start and become the President of the Garment workers' trade union.
Najma's tryst with garment factory began at the age of 11 when she accompanied her mother to work in the factory. Coming from an economically poor background, she worked 14 hours a day to make ends meet. Life went on with sporadic payment, ill-treatment, difficult working condition and unequal pay. Najma could no longer bear the working circumstances, she decided to raise her voice against the injustice, and soon was blacklisted from her job. Implying, she could not apply anywhere else. She contacted the mazdoor union (workers union). The trial, however, seems to have no end. Resulting in her laying foundation for "Shommilito Garments Sromik Federation" (women garment workers trade union).
She along with other women came together to fight for their rights of equal pay, safe, secure working environment and women re-presentation in decision making bodies. Today, there are over 70,000 women workers who are active, participating members of her federation. In 2003, she also started "Awaz Foundation" under which she successfully helped release 19 crore taka to women workers of Dhaka and Chittagong.
Najma equipped herself with computers and the English language to be able to fight against authority and power by herself.
Najma's story is of an unwavering conviction in herself and her objective of equal pay. She didn't give in to any pressures, she re-built herself and gained a global appreciation for her path-breaking achievements. In 2018, the United Nation General Assembly invited her to address the session as a mark of appreciation and recognition of her efforts.
“Because I am a sufferer I know first-hand the kind of problems they face, that’s why I always try to empower them and I want that more people take such leadership roles from the grassroots level so that they can solve their problems"
- Njama Akhtar
Hard work and commitment to the cause matters and helps in achieving positive goals in life