Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday pledged government support for young entrepreneurs, saying startups will be critical to Bangladesh’s economic transformation and urging youths to pursue entrepreneurship despite the challenges involved.
“We are with you – to help you, guide you and stand beside you. I do not know how much we will be able to do, but we will do our utmost to support you,” he said at a programme titled Youth, Startups and Bangladesh of Possibilities at the University of Dhaka.
The event was jointly organised by the ICT Division and the University of Dhaka under the slogan Build the Nation through Startups, Bangladesh First, bringing together more than 230 student entrepreneurs from eight universities and startup founders.
Tarique said entrepreneurs are needed not only to build businesses but also to create jobs, contribute to society and support national development.
“You are needed not only for yourselves but for millions of people and for the country,” he said.
Acknowledging the difficulties of starting a business, the prime minister said success requires determination and perseverance.
“What you want to do is not easy. It is very difficult. But you can succeed if you have the determination,” he said.
Sharing his own experience, Tarique said he had once ventured into business to earn a living before choosing to devote himself fully to politics.
“At one stage, I ventured into business to earn a decent living. But shortly after starting, I became actively involved in politics. Realising that it was not possible to pursue both at the same time, I chose to devote myself entirely to politics,” he said.
He said his political journey involved “inhumane persecution”, hardship and tests of patience, adding that successful journeys often require overcoming adversity.
“I am not trying to discourage you. I want to encourage you. Every successful journey involves hardship, but if you remain determined, you can achieve your goal,” he said.
Tarique said his confidence in Bangladesh’s future had grown after witnessing recent innovation and student initiatives.
Referring to a national innovation exhibition where students showcased technology-based projects and a nationwide sports competition involving around 22 lakh primary school students, he said such events demonstrated the potential of the younger generation.
“Sometimes, as a politician, I become discouraged. But after seeing those children, I felt much more confident. And today, after seeing your work and hearing your experiences, my confidence has grown even stronger,” he said.
“It gives me confidence that when we leave, there will be capable young people to take the country forward from where we stop.”
Startup platform launched
The programme marked the launch of the National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform, an ICT Division initiative that will connect entrepreneurs with government support programmes, mentoring, investment opportunities, partner networks and other services through a single platform.
The prime minister also held an open discussion with students, visited startup exhibition stalls and reviewed technology-based innovations.
He distributed grant cheques to representatives of six selected startups and approved additional financial support for Lutfunnesa Meghna, founder of Rafiha Fashion House, after she sought assistance to promote Bangladesh’s traditional Jamdani textile.
The event featured a documentary on Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem and a session titled Not Just Stories, but Reality, where startup founders shared their experiences of building innovative ventures.
The government has identified startup and entrepreneurship development as a priority in its 2026 election manifesto to support economic growth, job creation and technological transformation.
A Tk500 crore Startup Fund has already been established to finance promising entrepreneurs and expand innovative ventures.
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad, ICT Division Acting Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor ABM Obaidul Islam, among others, attended the programme.
