Photo: PMO

DHAKA, July 14, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced to provide grants to young startup entrepreneurs ranging from Tk five lakh to a maximum of Tk five crore.

The Prime Minister made the announcement while responding to questions from young entrepreneurs at an event titled "Youth, Startups and the Bangladesh of Possibilities" held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the Dhaka University (DU) here.

Noting that the government always stays beside talented entrepreneurs, Tarique Rahman said the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division has allocated about Taka 500 crore to support startups. From this fund, the government will try to provide assistance ranging from Tk five lakh to Tk 5 ccrore, he said.

ICT Division in collaboration with DU organized the event. One of the main attractions of the event was the launching of the National Startup and Entrepreneur Platform.

The discussion, moderated by Abdullah Al Mamun, a member of the University Grants Commission, was attended by more than 230 students from eight universities.

In response to a question from Nusrat Jahan, a statistics student of the DU, the prime minister said the government has decided that entrepreneurs wishing to begin a startup for the first time will no longer have to go through conventional banking procedures such as providing land, property, or other forms of collateral.

"A completely independent committee has been formed. There are no ministers or advisers on it. They will evaluate your project, and if it is approved, you will receive financing without any collateral," he added.

Answering another student's question, Tarique Rahman said young entrepreneurs with promising business ideas would be eligible for government-backed startup financing without collateral.

Even if promising startups fail initially, they will be given another opportunity to receive funding, he said.

Replying to a question from Jagannath University student Syeda Anannya Faria about supporting entrepreneurs outside Dhaka, he said the government wants to expand the startup ecosystem across the country rather than confining it to the capital.

"We want young entrepreneurs like you from every corner of Bangladesh to come forward. We want to reach you," he said.

In response to another question, Tarique Rahman said building an ecosystem would take time, but the goal could be achieved through sincere efforts.

"It will take us some time. But if we all work together sincerely, I believe we will reach our goal," he said.

Students who asked questions represented the DU, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jahangirnagar University (JU), Jagannath University (JnU), Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), North South University (NSU) and BRAC University.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, Prime Minister's Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, ICT Division acting Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, DU Marketing Department faculty Prof Md Morshed Hasan Khan, senior ministry officials, teachers and students from various universities, and entrepreneurs were present.