By Rina Akter, from Singair, Manikganj
Arifa Akter’s homestead in Azimpur village of Singair has become an important social, cultural, and community gathering place for local residents.
A member of a women-led organization supported by BARCIK since 2018, Arifa manages a 60-decimal homestead with vegetable gardens, a pond, and cultivated land that provides nutritious food for her family. Her homestead also contains the shrine of her grandfather-in-law, Budhei Fakir, which attracts visitors and devotees throughout the year.
A separate community hall on the premises hosts adolescent club meetings, training sessions, NGO workshops, village sports, and community discussions. The spacious courtyard is widely used for cultural events, agricultural processing, crop drying, and social gatherings.
Each year, a three-day traditional fair and folk music festival is organized around the shrine, drawing visitors from neighboring villages. Meals are served equally to all visitors regardless of social or economic background, fostering social harmony and community solidarity.
Due to this, the community people describe Arifa’s homestead as a centre for social cohesion, cultural preservation, and collective community action.
