Photo : PMO

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 11, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed an allocation of Tk 500 crore in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 national budget to encourage new entrepreneurs in the information technology sector.

The fund will be used as a "Startup Fund" for supporting women entrepreneurs and young innovators.

The initiative forms part of the government's broader strategy to harness the potential of the country's young population and promote startups, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship as key drivers of future economic growth.

Unveiling the maiden national budget of the present BNP government at the Jatiya Sangsad this afternoon, the finance minister said the government considers Bangladesh's highly talented and promising youth population as the country's greatest asset and a key driver of development.

He said special emphasis is being placed on leveraging the skills and innovative capacities of young people to promote startups, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship.

The minister said technology-based training and skills development programmes are being implemented to prepare youth for the global labour market, while the government envisions them taking the lead in creating new employment opportunities.

He said the expansion of the ICT and automation-based economy would generate new jobs in the country.

To this end, initiatives have been undertaken to formulate a timely and modern startup policy, while various startup funds are being consolidated into a unified startup financing mechanism.

According to the budget speech, one of the government's key objectives is to build an innovative and self-reliant Bangladesh by harnessing the strength of its youth.

The government believes that with adequate support, the talented and creative youth of Bangladesh will be capable of establishing world-class technology hubs in the country comparable to Silicon Valley in the United States, Shenzhen in China, Singapore or Dubai in the future.