Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to formally inaugurate and attend as chief guest the ‘Youth, Startups and Bangladesh’s potential’ event at Dhaka University on July 14.
DU, in collaboration with the government's ICT Division, will host the program aimed at integrating young people's innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial potential into the country's national development agenda, according to a press release from the university.
The event will begin at 9:30 am at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the university.
Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad will attend as special guests.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A.B.M. Obaidul Islam will deliver the vote of thanks. Acting Secretary of the ICT Division Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan will present the opening remarks, while Prof. Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan of the university's Marketing Department, a member of the event management committee, will deliver the welcome address.
The programme will be open to the public from 1:00 pm following the inaugural session.
The inaugural session will feature a presentation on Bangladesh's startup ecosystem, experience-sharing by successful startup founders, an open discussion between the prime minister and students on entrepreneurship, and the distribution of grant cheques to selected startups.
One of the programme's key highlights will be the launch of the ‘National Startup and Entrepreneur Platform,’ a digital one-stop portal designed to serve as a national launchpad for entrepreneurs.
According to the organisers, the platform will enable entrepreneurs to access information on government support schemes, application procedures, training, mentoring, investment opportunities, partner organizations and other relevant services through a single digital interface.
The organizers said the ICT Division has been implementing various programmes to transform young people's innovative ideas into viable businesses, promote technology-driven employment, encourage research and innovation, and build a knowledge-based economy. The government is also working to establish an integrated startup ecosystem by providing support throughout an entrepreneur's journey--from idea development and grants to mentoring, training, financing, investment connections and business expansion.
“As part of its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, the government's 2026 election manifesto has identified startup and entrepreneur development as a national priority for boosting economic growth, employment and technological transformation. A Tk 500 crore Startup Fund has already been established to finance and nurture promising startups,” the press release added.