Bangladesh Bank has brought prominent business leaders and corporate executives into the selection of young entrepreneurs under its special initiative Udyog, seeking to identify promising business ventures at the grassroots level and support their development.
The three-day selection programme for applicants from Manikganj began on Sunday and will continue until 10 November at the central bank’s headquarters in Dhaka.
According to a Bangladesh Bank press release, applicants from different upazilas of Manikganj are being interviewed and evaluated for eligibility for financing support. A panel of prominent business leaders and corporate executives is assessing their business plans, entrepreneurial potential and commercial viability.
The evaluators include Apex Footwear Limited Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur, Mohammadi Group Chairperson Rubana Huq, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan and BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan.
Former Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh CEO Mohammad Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Onnorokom Group founder Mahmudul Hasan Sohag and Pathao Limited CEO Fahim Ahmed are also taking part in the evaluation.
Udyog, which stands for ‘Upazila Driven Youth Opportunity for Growth’, aims to identify and develop promising young entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, generate employment and accelerate economic growth.
Under the initiative, Bangladesh Bank plans to assess business proposals and provide necessary guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs to help them develop viable ventures.
The initiative seeks to expand entrepreneurial opportunities beyond major urban centres, where access to business networks, institutional financing and professional guidance can be limited. By identifying potential entrepreneurs at the upazila level, the central bank aims to encourage local economic activities, support new ventures and create employment.
Bangladesh Bank sources said the identification and selection process was initially launched in eight districts. Following a positive response in the first phase, the programme has now been expanded to the remaining 56 districts, taking its coverage to all 64 districts.
Applications and entrepreneur identification activities in the other districts began on 1 November and will continue until 30 November.
The nationwide expansion is expected to bring more aspiring entrepreneurs into the formal financing ecosystem and encourage youth-led business development across the country.
