Mosarof Hossen , Staff Reporter || In the remote hill district of Khagrachhari’s Matiranga upazila, where access to technology and career opportunities is still limited for many young people, one determined young man has rewritten his destiny through hard work and persistence. That young man is Md. Ibrahim Khalil — a successful freelancer, entrepreneur, and founder of “Khalil IT.”Today, Ibrahim is known as one of the rising faces of Bangladesh’s freelancing industry. But his journey toward success was anything but easy.Born into a lower middle-class family, Ibrahim grew up in an environment where financial hardship was a constant reality. His father, Md. Bazlu Mia, was a small businessman and the sole earning member of the family. Managing daily expenses for five family members was already difficult, leaving little room for dreams.Yet from an early age, Ibrahim developed a deep interest in technology. While many around him were unaware of freelancing or online careers, he quietly dreamed of building a future through digital skills. The biggest obstacle, however, was owning a computer.Buying a laptop was almost impossible for his family at the time. Still, Ibrahim refused to give up. Inspired and encouraged by his mother, he began learning basic computer skills at a local shop. Sometimes he would spend hours at a neighbor’s house just to get a chance to practice on a computer.In 2014, after borrowing money from friends and relatives, Ibrahim finally managed to buy his first laptop for around 30 to 35 thousand taka. That laptop became the turning point of his life.His freelancing journey officially began in 2016 when he joined the ICT Division’s “Learning and Earning Development Project.” Competing with around one hundred participants in Khagrachhari district, Ibrahim secured second place. To attend the training sessions, he regularly traveled nearly 20 kilometers through difficult hilly roads from Matiranga to Khagrachhari town. Sometimes he had to stay overnight at a friend’s house after late training sessions.But success did not come overnight.After completing the training, Ibrahim spent nearly one and a half years without getting any work online. There were moments of frustration and uncertainty, but he kept improving his skills and continued trying.Finally, in 2018, he received his first freelancing project — a logo design worth only five dollars. Soon after, he landed another project worth fifty dollars. Those small opportunities slowly opened bigger doors for him.Over time, Ibrahim established himself on international freelance marketplaces like Fiverr. He specialized in graphic design and digital marketing, working with clients from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and several other European nations.In the last few years, he has successfully completed more than three thousand projects. Today, his average monthly income ranges from 150,000 to 250,000 taka, while in some months his earnings have crossed five lakh taka.However, Ibrahim did not want success only for himself.In 2021, he founded “Khalil IT,” a training-based organization focused on teaching freelancing and graphic design to young people. Later, he launched “Khalil IT Agency,” which provides digital services to international clients.Currently, around 17 people are working under Khalil IT and Khalil IT Agency. More than 1,500 students have already received freelancing training from Khalil IT, and many of them are now earning independently through online marketplaces.One of the most emotional chapters of Ibrahim’s life was during his SSC examination period, when his mother sold her earrings to help pay his exam registration fees. Ibrahim still remembers that sacrifice with deep emotion and credits all his achievements to his mother, Ranu Begum.Alongside business, Ibrahim is also involved in social work. A portion of Khalil IT’s income is regularly spent on helping poor and underprivileged people. Every month, he arranges meals for disadvantaged communities and distributes blankets in remote areas during winter. He also founded a voluntary organization called “An-Nafi Foundation.”For young people interested in freelancing, Ibrahim has a simple but powerful message: success does not come overnight.“People should stop dreaming of earning thousands of dollars immediately after entering freelancing,” he says. “First, they need to build skills, remain patient, improve communication abilities, and continue learning. Success comes gradually.”Ibrahim also expressed concern over the government’s current 7.5 percent remittance tax policy. According to him, the policy could discourage newcomers and create survival challenges for experienced freelancers.“Freelancing is one of the country’s important sources of foreign currency earnings,” Ibrahim said. “If excessive taxes are imposed on freelancers, many young people will lose interest in this sector. In the long run, it could negatively affect the country’s dollar inflow and future economy.” From a remote hill village in Khagrachhari to becoming the founder of a growing IT institution, Ibrahim Khalil’s journey is more than just a success story. It is a story of resilience, sacrifice, determination, and the power of dreams.