Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has announced a BDT 500 crore startup fund to support promising young entrepreneurs across the country. This government initiative aims to ensure that innovative ventures are not halted due to a lack of funding.
The Prime Minister made this announcement on Saturday (October 31) in a message issued on the occasion of National Youth Day-2026. The day will be observed nationwide on Sunday (November 1).
In his message, Tareq Rahman stated that the government is implementing various programs to accelerate the country’s economic progress by leveraging the talent, skills, and creativity of its youth. As part of these efforts, a BDT 500 crore startup fund has been announced for young entrepreneurs. Additionally, for the first time, an initiative has been taken to allocate a budget specifically for the startup sector.
The Prime Minister noted that from achieving independence to overcoming various national crises and progressing through every stage of development, the youth have played a vital role. The younger generation is the lifeblood of a nation and a key driving force for its advancement.
Highlighting past initiatives in youth development, he mentioned that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman took the initiative to establish the Ministry of Youth Development in 1978. Later, in 1981, the Directorate of Youth Development was founded to extend youth development activities to the grassroots level. In 1991, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia initiated the establishment of youth training centers in every district to enhance youth employment and technical skills.
The Prime Minister reported on the progress of the Directorate of Youth Development, stating that over 80 lakh young men and women have received skill development training of various durations. Among them, approximately 25 lakh have become self-reliant through self-employment. Many trained young individuals are earning between BDT 20,000 to BDT 1 lakh per month, with some earning even more.
He further added that BDT 2,861.87 crore in youth loans has been distributed until June 2026 to provide financial assistance to young entrepreneurs.
Emphasizing technology-driven employment, Tareq Rahman stated that acquiring technical and technological skills, in addition to conventional education, is essential to thrive in today’s competitive world. For this reason, immediately after assuming responsibility, the government launched training projects on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and freelancing.
He noted that through these trainings, young people are not only gaining proficiency in modern technology but also getting opportunities to earn foreign currency by working online.
Highlighting youth participation in environmental conservation, the Prime Minister mentioned that the youth are contributing to environmental protection by establishing biogas plants under the Impact Project.
He stressed the importance of expanding training programs in new sectors such as smart agriculture, export-oriented packaging, food processing, and foreign language education, considering future employment demands.
The Prime Minister affirmed that if a young generation enriched with modern knowledge, technology, and innovative skills can be developed, Bangladesh will further advance in international competition.
He underscored the significance of the National Youth Award, informing that so far, 546 self-employed individuals and youth organizers have been honored with this recognition for their contributions to nation-building. He also congratulated this year’s award recipients.
In the concluding part of his message, the Prime Minister urged young people to actively participate in the country’s development by nurturing their talents, innovative ideas, and technological skills. He also wished success for all programs organized on the occasion of National Youth Day-2026.
