Once, Sirajganj-based entrepreneur Upoma believed that managing both family life and a business was impossible. After marriage, the weight of new responsibilities nearly forced her to give up. It was her mother-in-law who stood by her and urged her to keep going.
“Stopping is not an option. You have to grow your business further,” she told her. It was also through her mother-in-law that Upoma first heard about Mon Janala. On the day of the event, both of them arrived together—to speak, to listen, and to share the words they had never said aloud.
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Mon Janala is a social platform founded by Mousumi Mou (Founder and Managing Director) to create a safe, empathetic space for women, particularly those over 40, to reflect on their minds, bodies, and futures. Co-founder and Executive Director Hasibul Karim said the inspiration for the initiative came from observing his own mother’s life and struggles, with the belief that small initiatives can one day grow into meaningful collective movements.
On January 16, Mon Janala organised a special session titled “Not a Time to Stop, but to Move Forward” at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Banglamotor, Dhaka. More than 70 women from diverse professions attended the event—BCS cadres, teachers, entrepreneurs, homemakers, and even a retired vice president of a leading private bank who is now searching for a new purpose beyond a busy corporate life. Some participants came alone, some with daughters, all united by a shared desire to rethink life after 40.
Actress Deepa Khandakar attended the session to listen to the stories. She emphasised that every stage of life carries its own responsibilities. “This is the age to give time to yourself. Smile, dress up, travel. You have given so much time to your family—now think about how to keep yourself happy,” she said, adding that homemakers deserve special recognition for keeping households alive and functional.
Wellness and beauty consultant Dr Tawhida Rahman Irin from Rejuva Wellness described turning 40 not as a challenge, but as an accumulation of experience, urging women to care for their bodies through small daily habits. Legendary singer Fahmida Nabi shared her personal journey, revealing how she returned to music at 40 after a 12-year break. “If I don’t love struggle, how can I ever be a happy butterfly?” she said.
Despite meeting for the first time, the participants bonded over shared experiences—changing bodies, mental pressure, and financial worries—and expressed a collective commitment to stand by one another and take Mon Janala forward together.
