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The government has allocated Tk500 crore for a startup fund to finance innovative initiatives by young people and help create new entrepreneurs, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said.
The allocation is aimed at ensuring that promising business ventures do not fail due to a lack of funding. For the first time, the government has made a budgetary allocation specifically for startups, he said.
The prime minister made the remarks in a message issued on Saturday ahead of National Youth Day 2026, to be observed on Sunday (November 1).
In his message, Tarique said young people were the driving force behind any nation’s progress and development. Their contributions had been undeniable, from the country’s independence struggle to tackling national crises and advancing development.
He recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had recognised the enormous potential of young people in nation-building and taken initiatives to organise them. At his direction, the Ministry of Youth Development was established in 1978, which was later renamed the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He said the Department of Youth Development was established in 1981 to implement youth development programmes at the grassroots level.
The prime minister also recalled that former prime minister Khaleda Zia took the initiative in 1991 to establish youth training centres in all districts to expand employment opportunities and make young people self-reliant through technical and practical training.
According to Tarique, the Department of Youth Development has so far provided skills development training to more than 8 million young people. Of them, around 2.5 million have become self-reliant through self-employment.
They earn between Tk20,000 and Tk100,000 a month, with some earning even more, he said.
He said Tk28,618.7 crore in youth loans had been disbursed up to June 2026 to support young entrepreneurs.
Describing the National Youth Award as a commendable initiative, the prime minister said 546 successful self-employed individuals, including women, and youth organisers had received the honour in recognition of their contributions to nation-building. He congratulated this year’s award recipients.
Tarique said acquiring technical and technological skills alongside conventional education had become essential for young people to remain competitive in the global job market.
In a rapidly changing global environment, young people needed to equip themselves with modern knowledge and skills, he said.
He added that the government had launched a training project on artificial intelligence (AI) shortly after assuming office. Through freelancing and AI training initiatives, participants were developing professional skills and gaining opportunities to earn foreign currency by working online.
Highlighting the role of young people in environmental protection, the prime minister said they were contributing to conservation by installing biogas plants under the IMPACT project.
He also stressed the need for further training programmes in smart agriculture, export-oriented packaging and food processing, foreign language education and other emerging sectors.
Such initiatives would help build a modern, skilled and competitive workforce, he said.
The prime minister urged young people to devote themselves to national development by nurturing their talents, innovative capabilities and technological skills.
Referring to this year’s National Youth Day theme, ‘Skilled Youth Will Build the Nation, Bangladesh for All’, he expressed hope that young people would play an increasingly effective role in the country’s development, leadership and future progress.
He wished success to all programmes organised to mark National Youth Day 2026.
