Play store
By Shamim Sabuj, District Correspondent
What began as a modest Tk 360 order has turned into a fast-growing business generating hundreds of thousands of taka every month for a young couple from Rajshahi University, proving that determination and innovation can overcome financial hardship and social skepticism.
SM Rizon, a fourth-year student of International Relations, and his wife, Risa Afrin, a third-year Accounting student, launched their entrepreneurial journey while still pursuing their university degrees. Driven by a dream of becoming successful entrepreneurs, they ventured into the niche business of manufacturing custom flash seals under the brand Bengal’s Signature.
Their journey, however, was anything but easy.
The couple started in February 2023 after bringing in a single seal from Dhaka to fulfill an order worth just Tk 360. They promoted their products through Facebook, Messenger groups, and personal contacts, gradually attracting customers. But they lacked capital, had no knowledge of seal manufacturing, and did not know where to source raw materials.
Family opposition added to the challenge. Rizon said his father strongly disapproved of the business, believing it was inappropriate for a university student. His mother, however, stood by him, while financial support from his elder brother and encouragement from friends gave him the confidence to continue.
After extensive research, the couple began importing raw materials from China and taught themselves the manufacturing process through trial and error. They initially worked from the floor of their home, suffering repeated losses as they learned the craft.
As orders increased, they moved into a small tin-roofed shop before establishing a modern 1,500-square-foot showroom in the Padma Residential Area of Bhadra in Rajshahi city.
Today, Bengal’s Signature employs 16 university students, offering part-time work opportunities in a city where such jobs are often scarce. The company produces between 600 and 700 custom seals every month, delivering them to customers across Bangladesh as well as overseas.
“We wanted to do something different from conventional businesses,” Rizon said. “When we looked online, we found there was no reliable platform dedicated to supplying custom seals. We started without any experience, but gradually learned everything ourselves.”
He added that overseas demand has become one of the company’s major sources of income.
“Every seal is customized according to the customer’s preference. We want each product to reflect creativity and individuality,” he said. “Creating employment for 15 to 16 people is one of our greatest achievements.”
Risa said she remained committed to building the business alongside her husband despite the struggles.
“We faced many hardships together, but Alhamdulillah, our dream has come true,” she said. “We have created jobs for others, and we want to take our business even further.”
Their success has also earned praise from their families.
Risa’s father, Rezaul Karim, said he was proud of the couple’s determination and encouraged them to stay focused from the beginning.
Rizon’s mother, Rukhsana Begum Popy, recalled that although his father initially feared the business would affect his studies, she always believed in allowing her son to follow his ambitions.
Family friend and fellow entrepreneur Md Faraji described Rizon as a creative and self-reliant individual, saying he had always been confident the young entrepreneur would achieve success.
Their remarkable rise from a Tk 360 order to an internationally serving enterprise has made Bengal’s Signature an inspiring example of youth entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.