Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury spoke at the Jatiya Sangsad today. Photo: Video Screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 9, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today told the parliament that the government and the Bangladesh Bank have been implementing various refinance schemes to promote youth entrepreneurship and address unemployment through soft-term and low-interest financing.

In response to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Abdul Malek (Sylhet-3) during the day’s question-answer session in the house today, the Finance Minister said that currently there is no interest-free loan scheme for young entrepreneurs operated by the Bangladesh Bank. The day’s sitting began with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.

However, several refinancing facilities have been introduced to ensure access to credit on simplified terms.

Khosru said that under the Bangladesh Bank’s own fund, the Cottage, Micro and Small Enterprise (CMSE) New Entrepreneurs Refinance Scheme has been expanded from Tk 100 crore to Tk 500 crore.

Under this scheme, he said new entrepreneurs can avail loans of up to Tk 1 million without collateral at a maximum interest rate of 7 percent, while loans up to Tk 3.5 million are available with collateral.

To further support startups, a Tk 500 crore start-up fund has been introduced, under which entrepreneurs can receive loans at a reduced interest rate of 4 percent.

In addition, to provide equity support alongside credit facilities, the Bangladesh Bank has established the Bangladesh Start-up Investment Company PLC in partnership with 39 scheduled banks. The company provides equity financing support to startup ventures.

The minister also highlighted skills development initiatives under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP) implemented by Bangladesh Bank’s PIU-SICIP. “Through this programme, aspiring entrepreneurs receive month-long (100-hour) entrepreneurship development training in different districts,”

The training is free of cost, and participants who successfully complete the course receive a training allowance of Tk 5,000. Graduates of the programme are also given priority in accessing loan facilities.

In response to another supplementary question from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md. Mahbubul Alam (Kurigram-3), the Finance Minister stated that addressing educated unemployment remains a major national challenge. 

He observed that a large proportion of unemployed youth in Bangladesh come from the general education stream rather than technical or vocational backgrounds.

He further said that the government is prioritizing skill development programmes and expanding vocational education across the country. 

Under this initiative, training institutions are being strengthened to provide job-oriented education, with certification systems designed to ensure both domestic and overseas employment opportunities for trained youth.

The Minister added that the government’s focus is on transforming the workforce through practical skills training rather than training alone, ensuring that participants become employable both at home and abroad.