Most 13-year-old boys like to pass their time with a cricket bat or football, in a playground, running around with their friends. But Anisur Rahman Anis, the son of a small-scale farmer from Krishnapur village of Kurigram's Mogalbasha union prefers to spend his leisure hours with computers. The enterprising student of class 7 at Border Guard Bangladesh Public School and College has established his own small IT business.

Due to the economic struggle faced by his father, since he was four years old Anis has been raised by his uncle Joynal Abedin. Anis calls his uncle 'abbu', father; Joynal takes care of Anis as his own son. Joynal works as a computer operator in the district education office in Kurigram town.

As a result of his own IT based profession, Joynal has a computer at home too, and, when Anis studied in class 3 his guardian noticed just how enthusiastic about computers Anis was. So Joynal decided to train Anis.

The young boy first learnt MS word and how to use the internet; he then acquired skills in various other programs including Photoshop, Power Point and graphics design software. Anis was soon able to install software as well. He could scan and print and edit videos. And still the boy's enthusiasm for computers was not dimmed.

At the end of 2014 Joynal rented a part of Rasha Computer & Variety Store in Kurigram town's Paura Bazar, and set up a computer, printer, scanner and internet access. From January 2015, Anis started to work there after class, generating income for his guardian as contribution to his own school expenses.

“I have class from 9:00am to 2:00pm,” says Anis, “Then after lunch from about 3:00pm. I sit in the shop until early evening. But I don't work when I have to study for school exams.”

According to Anis, while his school has taught the students to use a multi-media projector, they have no class dedicated to computer skills. “But our Bangla teacher Babor Ali,” says Anis, “knows I have IT skills. He knows I want to study computer science.”

Earning between Tk 200 and Tk 500 per day, Anis completes various internet and Word composition activities for local offices and individuals. “I give the money to Abbu,” he says, referring to Joynal, “because he pays all my school costs including for my private tuition.”

Senior sub-assistant engineer of the local government engineering department, Nazrul Islam, says he has found Anis to be helpful and efficient in completing any official task he has given him. “Anis is a computer expert,” says Nazrul, “I am convinced that in future he will do really well if he has the chance to study computers at a higher level.”

“Anis has an enduring interest in computers,” says Joynal. “That's why I am providing him with all the support he needs including equipment and private tuition. My hope is that eventually his skills can help him and his father to meet the costs of his higher education.”