“Now that I have a roof over my head, all other dreams will come true, Insha’Allah.”
LIMA AKTER, Zinnahpara, Ward 31
Life has not been kind to Lima Akter, a young widow with a little boy and no home to call her own. But thanks to the Khulna Urban Extension Project, her tears have turned into smiles. She now has a place she can truly call home—a place that has brought back her dignity, hope, and the courage to dream again.
Lima was born in the village of Char Hoglabunia in Bagerhat. The youngest of five siblings, her childhood was humble but full of love. In 2018, at just 15 years old, she was married to Md. Monir Kazi, a 25-year-old small trader from Bahirdia. Her early married life was peaceful, and soon she gave birth to a beautiful son named Abdullah. Life felt full of promise.
But that promise was short-lived.
Just after becoming a mother, Lima’s husband was diagnosed with severe kidney disease. They sold everything—jewelry, household items, even land—to pay for his treatment. But they couldn’t save him. Within four months of losing her husband, both of her parents also passed away. Grief swallowed Lima.
Left with no home or income, Lima moved with her baby boy to her brother’s cramped house in Jinnahpara, Khulna. Her brother, a day laborer, could barely provide for his own family. Lima and her son slept on the balcony with her niece.
“I used to stay on the balcony with my little boy in my brother’s territory. I was always afraid for our future,” Lima recalls.
In March 2025, she got a job at a madrasa, earning only 3000 BDT per month. It wasn’t much, but it kept them going. She worked hard and stayed at the madrasa most nights, keeping her son by her side.
During a challenging period, the Khulna Urban Extension Project—implemented by JJS and Habitat—was initiated in their area with the primary goal of advancing SDG 11: making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable in Khulna City Corporation, specifically in wards 21, 22, and 31.
With support from self-help group members, JJS and Habitat inspected her situation and decided to build her a semi-pucca house: a 10×12-foot room, a 6-foot veranda, and an attached bathroom. Though she had inherited a small piece of land—just 3 decimals—from her parents, she had no way to build a home on it.
Everything changed from there.
Today, Lima and her son live in their own home. She no longer has to depend on anyone. After a long day at work, she comes back to a space filled with love, safety, and pride.
“Now I can use my home the way I want. It gives me dignity, peace of mind, and a sense of control over my life.”
Her neighbors visit daily to see her new house. People who once looked down on her now sit with her on the veranda, chat, and share moments of joy.
“I never imagined I’d have a house of my own. I have no words to express my happiness,” she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. “JJS and Habitat have given me a new life. They’ve helped me dream again. Now that I have a roof over my head, all other dreams will come true, Insha’Allah.”
From Loss to a New Life: Lima’s Journey to Hope and Home 🏠💛
Lima Akter..a widow and a mother. Once her existence was full on tragedy. She was married at 15, lost her husband soon after the birth of her son, and before coming out form the grief she lost both her parents. She had nothing..she had no one except her very young kid. So she had no other option but to move into her brother’s small cramped house in Jinnahpara, Khulna. Sleeping on the balcony with her young boy—she was exposed, scared, and had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
But that was transformed by the Khulna Urban Extension Project, implemented by JJS and Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh in alignment with SDG 11: making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Moved by Lima’s situation, the team helped her build a semi-concrete house on the tiny piece of land she inherited—a paltry 3 decimals. What had appeared as an impossibility took form: a 10×12 ft room, a 6-ft veranda, and a bathroom—now all hers.
Now, Lima returns home each day from work to her very own safe, peaceful place which she can called “Home”. She no longer has to depend on anyone. Neighbors who used to ignore her once, now they stop by, visit with her, and respect her strength.
“I never imagined I’d have a house of my own,” she says, eyes filled with tears. “JJS and Habitat have given me dignity and the courage to dream again. Insha’Allah, all my other dreams will follow.”
Lima’s home is more than a shelter—it’s a symbol of resilience, independence, and the power of giving someone a second chance.
