Govt to provide Tk 47 crore youth loans to 4,985 young people

In a major move to empower the nation’s youth, the government has announced it will provide Tk 47.26 crore in youth loans to 4,985 young individuals on the occasion of National and International Youth Day, which is scheduled to be observed on August 12.

Dr. Gazi Md. Saifuzzaman, Director General of the Department of Youth Development, revealed this at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday. Of the total beneficiaries, 2,534 are young men and 2,451 are young women. Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was also present.

This year’s Youth Day theme is “Technology-Driven Youth Power, Progress through Multilateral Partnership.” Dr. Saifuzzaman highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to harness the energy of the youth, especially following the July Mass Uprising. “Our goal is to transform tech-savvy youth into skilled human resources through job-oriented training, self-employment loans, and voluntary service initiatives,” he said.

The Department of Youth Development has trained 271,719 youths aged 18 to 35 in various trades over the past year. Additionally, nearly 200,000 youths are gaining employment or becoming self-employed annually through these programs.

In a bid to restore road discipline, 1,076 youths received training in traffic management and social awareness to assist traffic police. Youth celebrations have been organized nationwide, including Dhaka and various districts.

Youth-led initiatives have cleaned and maintained 64 canals and water bodies across the country. Other ongoing projects include freelancing training, eco-friendly biogas plant installations, and computer training in remote areas via mobile vans.

Dr. Saifuzzaman also announced that through the EARN project, 900,000 unemployed youths who are not engaged in education, training, or work will receive job placement support within six months.

The government’s commitment to youth development reflects its recognition of young people as the key drivers of the nation’s progress.