DHAKA, March 16, 2022 (BSS) - State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today
said Startup Bangladesh will give Taka 17 crore to eight startups to scale up
their products and services from Taka 100 crore allocated for 50 startups
under 'Shoborshe Shoto Asha Programme'.

Startup Bangladesh, a flagship venture capital fund of ICT Division,
announced the names of eight startups today at the second investment
announcement ceremony organised by Startup Bangladesh at BCC auditorium,
Agargaon here.

With this second series of investments, a total of Taka 34 crore are being
given to 15 startups so far under `Shotobarshe Shoto Asha' programme launched
earlier, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of independence of Bangladesh.

Addressing the function virtually, Palak said Bangladeshi startups got a
foreign investment worth US$ 750 million during the last one decade.

"Bangladesh is expecting more local and foreign investment in the days to
come as it has created a startup ecosystem conducive for investment," he
said.

Palak said the government has been encouraging the young talents to come up
with quality and sustainable startups to develop a culture of innovation and
startups.

"It (the government) undertakes various initiatives, including framing
policies, formation of Startup Bangladesh venture capital fund and allocation
of Taka 500 crore that will help flourish startups," he said, adding with
these initiatives, a startup ecosystem has been developed in the country.

Palak said the young entrepreneurs and innovators are the pioneers in
building Digital Bangladesh and the government has made Youth
Entrepreneurship agenda as one of the top priorities in its policies for
future.

Chaired by Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Sami Ahmed, the function
was addressed, among others, by Ambassador of Turkey Mustafa Osman Turan,
Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Dr Abdul Mannan and
Additional Secretary of ICT Division Khandoker Azizul Islam.

Mustafa Osman Turan said Bangladesh has created enabling environment to
develop startup culture in its journey towards building Digital Bangladesh.

Sami Ahmed said the government's various efforts will enable the nation to
innovate faster, create new jobs, develop technical skills, and realize the
goals of vision 2041.

"We now want to put emphasis on building digital economy by flourishing ICT
sector to help turn Bangladesh into a developed one by 2041," he added.