Dhaka, Nov 01 (V7N)- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced a Tk 500 crore startup fund to support promising young entrepreneurs and ensure that innovative business initiatives do not fail because of a lack of financing.

He made the announcement in a message issued on Saturday, October 31, ahead of National Youth Day 2026, which will be observed on Sunday. This year’s theme is “Skilled Youth Will Build the Country, Bangladesh for All.”

In his message, the prime minister described young people as the principal driving force behind a nation’s vitality and progress. He highlighted their contributions to the country’s independence, responses to national crises and development.

Youth Development and Employment

Tarique Rahman recalled that former president Ziaur Rahman established the Ministry of Youth Development in 1978, followed by the Directorate of Youth Development in 1981 to expand youth programmes at the grassroots level.

He also credited former prime minister Khaleda Zia with taking the initiative in 1991 to establish youth training centres across the country’s districts.

According to the prime minister, more than 8 million young people have received skills development training through the Department of Youth Development. Of them, approximately 2.5 million have become self-employed, earning between Tk 20,000 and Tk 100,000 or more per month.

He added that loans totalling Tk 2,861.87 crore had been distributed among young entrepreneurs up to June 2026.

The prime minister described the National Youth Award as an important initiative recognising contributions to nation-building. So far, 546 self-employed individuals and youth organisers have received the honour. He congratulated this year’s award recipients.

Emphasis on AI and Technical Skills

Tarique Rahman said young people need technical and technological skills alongside conventional education to remain competitive in the modern world.

He said the government had initiated a training project focused on artificial intelligence (AI) soon after taking office. Through AI training and freelancing opportunities, young people are being encouraged to develop professional skills and earn foreign currency by working online.

The prime minister also highlighted the role of young people in environmental conservation. Under the IMPACT project, he said, young people were contributing to environmental protection through the establishment of biogas plants.

He called for expanding training opportunities in promising sectors, including smart agriculture, export-oriented packaging, food processing and foreign-language education.

Call for Youth Participation in National Development

The prime minister urged young people to develop their talents, creativity, innovative capacity and technical expertise and dedicate themselves to national development.

He expressed hope that the country’s youth would play an increasingly effective role in leadership, economic development and Bangladesh’s future progress.

He concluded by wishing success to all programmes organised to mark National Youth Day 2026.

END/SMA/AJ