Physical challenge no bar to his success

Masum Parvez, 38, from BDR Hat Road area of Lalmonirhat town is a successful businessman. In his diversified fertiliser, pesticide, cement and transport businesses he employs 32 people. He supports his wife and three children. He regularly contributes to the welfare of orphans and children with disabilities in the area. That's quite a resume for someone who only studied up to class two. It's an achievement of note for somebody who is physically challenged.

“I didn't continue in school because the other students used to call me names due to my impairment,” Masum recalls, whose disability stems from faulty treatment of typhoid when he was just seven-months-old. “Instead, I started spending more time with my father in our small fertiliser shop. Gradullay I learned how to run a business properly.”

In 1996 he started his own fertiliser business in a tin shed shop, with around Tk 38,000 in pesticide and fertiliser stock. His father Moktar Ali, who was once a municipality councillor, helped him secure a dealership license. “My father's reputation was beneficial,” says Masum. “Many businessmen in the local markets and some pesticide companies were sympathetic and cooperative because of him.”

He also worked in partnership with his younger brother Masud Rana until a few years ago, when Masud died from cancer. Yet support from family and others, along with solid business management practices, did not by themselves, make Masum's business grow. It also took hard work.

“We never see Masum idle,” says Krishna Chandra Roy, 52, who has been employed in Masum's shop for the last twenty years. “He is always smiling, always busy. And he is popular with other businessmen for his honesty.”

 By 2002, Masum had added cement and transport interests to his portfolio. Nowadays he owns assets worth around Tk 5 crores. “Masum Parvez has proven the proverb: where there's a will there's a way,” says local businessman Rohidul Islam, 40. “Despite his physical challenges he has built a business that's in a much better position than many others.”

Yet Masum believes that without his disability he could have done more. “Collecting dues from the market is difficult,” he says, “because I can't move about freely.”

Moreover, Masum regularly helps others in the community. “I know the pain that people with disabilities experience,” he says. “So I do my level best to help them. I also try to do something for orphans.” Masum donates around Tk 60,000 per month to this end.

“We pray for our donor Masum Parvez,” says 12-year-old orphan Mehedi Islam from Taluk Khutamara area of Lalmonirhat town. Along with 25 other orphan children in a local madrassa, Mehedi receives food, clothing and healthcare free of cost due to Masum.

“Poor people never return from Masum Parvez without getting assistance,” says another local, Abdul Quader, 45.

 Naturally Masum's efforts are appreciated by his parents. “Masum manages our whole family,” says his mother Bilkis Begum.

“He has grown a small business into a large one,” notes his father Moktar Ali, “and besides that he is working for the welfare of others. I am so proud of him.”