Prime Minister Tarek Rahman on Saturday, 31 October, used his message on the occasion of National Youth Day‑2026 to announce a Tk 500 crore startup fund for young entrepreneurs. He said the fund is meant to help innovative ventures that lack financial support and marked the first time the national budget will include a specific allocation for startups.

The Prime Minister noted that, to date, more than 80 lakh youths have received skill‑development training through various government programmes, and about 25 lakh of them are self‑employed, earning monthly incomes ranging from Tk 20,000 to Tk 1 lakh.

He added that, by June 2026, the government has disbursed Tk 2,861.87 crore in youth loans to promote entrepreneurship.

Recognising the importance of digital competence, Rahman said the authorities have launched training projects in artificial intelligence and freelancing, enabling young people to work online and earn foreign currency.

On environmental matters, he highlighted the “Impact” initiative, under which the establishment of biogas plants allows youth to play a role in protecting the environment.

Looking ahead, the government plans to introduce new training modules in smart agriculture, finger‑print packaging, food‑processing and foreign‑language education to meet the evolving demands of the job market.

Rahman also mentioned that the national youth award, given in recognition of contribution to the country, has so far been conferred on 546 self‑employed individuals and youth organisations.

He concluded by urging young people to develop their talents, innovative thinking and technical skills, stressing that such efforts will accelerate Bangladesh’s progress on the international stage, and expressed hope that the upcoming National Youth Day‑2026 celebrations and related programmes will be successful.