Collateral-Free Grants Ranging Up to ৳5 Crore
PM Unveils National Startup Platform with ৳500Cr Fund
The Bangladeshi government has announced a BDT 500-crore startup fund to provide financing between BDT 5 lakh and BDT 5 crore for tech-based e
The government has announced a plan to provide financing ranging from BDT 5 lakh to BDT 5 crore from a BDT 500-crore startup fund to develop tech-based entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that financing will be disbursed to promising entrepreneurs based on project evaluation, and a neutral committee will make the decisions in this process.
He made this announcement on Tuesday, July 14, at an event titled 'Youth, Startup, and Bangladesh of Prospects' held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University. During the event, grants were handed over to representatives of six selected startups, and the National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform was inaugurated.
The Minister for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Rehan Asif Asad, were present as special guests. The opening remarks were delivered by Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Acting Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, while Professor Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan of the Department of Marketing at Dhaka University gave the welcome address.
In addition, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor A B M Obaidul Islam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Al Mozaddedi Alfechani, and Sada Dal Convener Professor Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan, among others, were present at the event.
According to the Information and Communication Technology Division, this BDT 500-crore startup fund, formed in line with the 2026 election manifesto, will play a supportive role in financing promising entrepreneurs. Following the opening session, the event was opened to the public in the afternoon, with the grand inauguration of the 'National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform' being one of the major attractions. This platform will serve as a one-stop national launchpad for entrepreneurs, providing information on government assistance, application processes, mentoring, and investment opportunities.
Speaking as the chief guest, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that BDT 500 crore has been allocated in the budget of the Information and Communication Technology Division for startup financing. Eligible entrepreneurs can receive assistance ranging from BDT 5 lakh to BDT 5 crore based on the type and potential of their projects.
He mentioned that in the case of conventional bank loans, complexities regarding collateral and documentation act as barriers for many new entrepreneurs. For this reason, a neutral committee has been formed to evaluate project potential, which will not include any ministers or advisers. Financing decisions will be made based on the committee's recommendations.
Responding to a question regarding the opportunity for collateral-free financing during the Q&A session, the Prime Minister stated that funding will be provided solely by considering the project's potential. Even if an initiative does not achieve the expected results, the possibility of refinancing may be considered if it shows potential.
He further added that the government will stand by promising entrepreneurs and will make every effort to provide the necessary support to build their capacity.
Time to Execute Rather Than Talk During the event, several new and aspiring entrepreneurs presented their innovative projects to the Prime Minister and engaged in a Q&A session. Addressing the audience, the Prime Minister noted, "Now, there is probably not much left to say. Whatever needed to be said has been said. Now is the time to work." Speaking directly to the budding entrepreneurs, he added, "Let me tell you one thing, what you are trying to do is not so easy; it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult. But you can do it if you have the will."
Personal Life Journey and Struggles: To encourage the youth, Tarique Rahman shared insights from his personal struggles: "I want to highlight a small chapter of my life. I am not trying to discourage you, but rather to inspire you. Look, in my life, I engaged in business—just enough as required to lead a decent life. This was because soon after I started my business, I got involved in politics. Two things do not go hand in hand. But one has to survive, so I did only as much business as necessary for a decent life. The rest of my time I dedicated to politics. That is where I decided that this is the path where I must move forward."
He further elaborated on the hardships: "To move forward, a person has to endure many things. I have faced mental harassment, physical torture, various forms of humiliation, physical abuse, and immense pain. I had to pass many tests of patience. After all that, today, Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Almighty Allah, I have reached a certain position. Briefly sharing this with you means that you too will have to pass through many hardships."
Assuring the entrepreneurs of government backing, he said, "I can assure you this much from my current position in the government—we are with you. We are here to help you, to guide you, and to stand by you. I don't know how much we can achieve, but we are here. We will try our best to stand by you with our maximum strength, InshaAllah."
Inspired by the Power of Youth: Reflecting on the country's vision, the Prime Minister shared, "Since I am in politics, I used to feel frustrated at times, and even now, I feel a bit disheartened in certain situations. But recently, I attended an event where nearly 22 lakh primary school children from across Bangladesh participated in various sports from Class Two to Five. I went to watch their football match. After seeing those children, I felt highly confident. Today, looking at your projects and listening to some of your speeches, I feel even more confident."
He continued, "Look, since I do politics, I have goals, objectives, political agendas, party plans, and duties. However, since I hold the responsibility of running the country, we have to think about the nation as a whole and its various sectors. Today, after seeing you and witnessing those children the other day, I feel that our day-and-night hard work to bring about a change is bearing fruit. I feel that we will be able to hand over the country to a generation that can take it forward from where we leave it."
Neutral Committee to Eliminate Banking Hassles: PM Tarique Rahman mentioned that to save entrepreneurs from banking hassles, collateral requirements, or excessive paperwork, a committee has been formed. This neutral committee contains no ministers or advisors and will independently evaluate the startup proposals.
During the Q&A segment, Nusrat Jahan, a student from the Department of Statistics at Dhaka University, pointed out that banks usually grant loans based on parental property or land, which is not feasible for many young innovators. She asked what steps the government is taking to ease loans for those who have great startup ideas but lack collateral. In response, the Prime Minister stated that the neutral committee will review the specific projects of the entrepreneurs and arrange funding accordingly.
Replying to another query, he clarified that the provided aid consists of public money. However, if a project shows potential, the government will consider refinancing or giving a second chance, noting that many businesses do not perform well right at the beginning.
Launch of National Startup Platform The ICT Division stated that the BDT 500 crore startup fund, formed in accordance with the Election Manifesto 2026, will be highly beneficial for promising entrepreneurs. The main highlight of the event, which opened to the general public in the afternoon, was the official inauguration of the 'National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform'. This platform will serve as a national one-stop launchpad for entrepreneurs to access government support programs, application processes, training, mentoring, and investment opportunities.
//DBTech/IH/SI//
The government has announced a plan to provide financing ranging from BDT 5 lakh to BDT 5 crore from a BDT 500-crore startup fund to develop tech-based entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that financing will be disbursed to promising entrepreneurs based on project evaluation, and a neutral committee will make the decisions in this process.
He made this announcement on Tuesday, July 14, at an event titled 'Youth, Startup, and Bangladesh of Prospects' held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University. During the event, grants were handed over to representatives of six selected startups, and the National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform was inaugurated.
The Minister for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Rehan Asif Asad, were present as special guests. The opening remarks were delivered by Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Acting Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, while Professor Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan of the Department of Marketing at Dhaka University gave the welcome address.
In addition, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor A B M Obaidul Islam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Al Mozaddedi Alfechani, and Sada Dal Convener Professor Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan, among others, were present at the event.
According to the Information and Communication Technology Division, this BDT 500-crore startup fund, formed in line with the 2026 election manifesto, will play a supportive role in financing promising entrepreneurs. Following the opening session, the event was opened to the public in the afternoon, with the grand inauguration of the 'National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform' being one of the major attractions. This platform will serve as a one-stop national launchpad for entrepreneurs, providing information on government assistance, application processes, mentoring, and investment opportunities.
Speaking as the chief guest, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that BDT 500 crore has been allocated in the budget of the Information and Communication Technology Division for startup financing. Eligible entrepreneurs can receive assistance ranging from BDT 5 lakh to BDT 5 crore based on the type and potential of their projects.
He mentioned that in the case of conventional bank loans, complexities regarding collateral and documentation act as barriers for many new entrepreneurs. For this reason, a neutral committee has been formed to evaluate project potential, which will not include any ministers or advisers. Financing decisions will be made based on the committee's recommendations.
Responding to a question regarding the opportunity for collateral-free financing during the Q&A session, the Prime Minister stated that funding will be provided solely by considering the project's potential. Even if an initiative does not achieve the expected results, the possibility of refinancing may be considered if it shows potential.
He further added that the government will stand by promising entrepreneurs and will make every effort to provide the necessary support to build their capacity.
Time to Execute Rather Than Talk During the event, several new and aspiring entrepreneurs presented their innovative projects to the Prime Minister and engaged in a Q&A session. Addressing the audience, the Prime Minister noted, "Now, there is probably not much left to say. Whatever needed to be said has been said. Now is the time to work." Speaking directly to the budding entrepreneurs, he added, "Let me tell you one thing, what you are trying to do is not so easy; it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult. But you can do it if you have the will."
Personal Life Journey and Struggles: To encourage the youth, Tarique Rahman shared insights from his personal struggles: "I want to highlight a small chapter of my life. I am not trying to discourage you, but rather to inspire you. Look, in my life, I engaged in business—just enough as required to lead a decent life. This was because soon after I started my business, I got involved in politics. Two things do not go hand in hand. But one has to survive, so I did only as much business as necessary for a decent life. The rest of my time I dedicated to politics. That is where I decided that this is the path where I must move forward."
He further elaborated on the hardships: "To move forward, a person has to endure many things. I have faced mental harassment, physical torture, various forms of humiliation, physical abuse, and immense pain. I had to pass many tests of patience. After all that, today, Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Almighty Allah, I have reached a certain position. Briefly sharing this with you means that you too will have to pass through many hardships."
Assuring the entrepreneurs of government backing, he said, "I can assure you this much from my current position in the government—we are with you. We are here to help you, to guide you, and to stand by you. I don't know how much we can achieve, but we are here. We will try our best to stand by you with our maximum strength, InshaAllah."
Inspired by the Power of Youth: Reflecting on the country's vision, the Prime Minister shared, "Since I am in politics, I used to feel frustrated at times, and even now, I feel a bit disheartened in certain situations. But recently, I attended an event where nearly 22 lakh primary school children from across Bangladesh participated in various sports from Class Two to Five. I went to watch their football match. After seeing those children, I felt highly confident. Today, looking at your projects and listening to some of your speeches, I feel even more confident."
He continued, "Look, since I do politics, I have goals, objectives, political agendas, party plans, and duties. However, since I hold the responsibility of running the country, we have to think about the nation as a whole and its various sectors. Today, after seeing you and witnessing those children the other day, I feel that our day-and-night hard work to bring about a change is bearing fruit. I feel that we will be able to hand over the country to a generation that can take it forward from where we leave it."
Neutral Committee to Eliminate Banking Hassles: PM Tarique Rahman mentioned that to save entrepreneurs from banking hassles, collateral requirements, or excessive paperwork, a committee has been formed. This neutral committee contains no ministers or advisors and will independently evaluate the startup proposals.
During the Q&A segment, Nusrat Jahan, a student from the Department of Statistics at Dhaka University, pointed out that banks usually grant loans based on parental property or land, which is not feasible for many young innovators. She asked what steps the government is taking to ease loans for those who have great startup ideas but lack collateral. In response, the Prime Minister stated that the neutral committee will review the specific projects of the entrepreneurs and arrange funding accordingly.
Replying to another query, he clarified that the provided aid consists of public money. However, if a project shows potential, the government will consider refinancing or giving a second chance, noting that many businesses do not perform well right at the beginning.
Launch of National Startup Platform The ICT Division stated that the BDT 500 crore startup fund, formed in accordance with the Election Manifesto 2026, will be highly beneficial for promising entrepreneurs. The main highlight of the event, which opened to the general public in the afternoon, was the official inauguration of the 'National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform'. This platform will serve as a national one-stop launchpad for entrepreneurs to access government support programs, application processes, training, mentoring, and investment opportunities.
//DBTech/IH/SI//
