PM joins youth and startup event at Dhaka University

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has joined a special event titled 'Youth, Startups and Potential of Bangladesh' at Dhaka University. This is his second visit to Dhaka University as Prime Minister since forming the government.

He arrived at the campus at 10am on Tuesday, where leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal welcomed him with a procession. Regular students also greeted the Prime Minister by waving their hands.

The event began at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban with the recitation of scriptures and the national anthem. Organised by the Information and Communication Technology Division in collaboration with Dhaka University, the event is being attended by Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad as special guests.

At the start of the event, acting secretary of the ICT Division Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan delivered the opening remarks. Welcome address was given by Professor Dr Md Morshed Hasan Khan of Dhaka University's Marketing Department. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam will deliver the vote of thanks in the concluding segment.

A documentary on Bangladesh's startup sector will be screened at the event. The programme also includes experience-sharing by successful entrepreneurs, an open discussion between the Prime Minister and students, and the distribution of grant cheques to selected entrepreneurs.

The 'National Startup and Entrepreneur Platform' will also be formally launched on the day. Through this digital platform, entrepreneurs will have access to government support, training, mentoring, investment opportunities and various services in one place.

The government's goal is to transform young people's innovative ideas into real ventures, create technology-driven employment and further energise the country's economy through entrepreneurship development. A Tk 500 crore startup fund has already been formed to implement this goal. After the inaugural session, the event will be open to all from 1pm.

Earlier, on 12 May, Tarique Rahman had participated in a workshop titled 'Transforming Higher Education in Bangladesh: Roadmap to Sustainable Excellence' at Dhaka University as Prime Minister, organised by the University Grants Commission.