Bangladesh Bank has launched an initiative titled ‘UDYOG’ (Upazila-Driven Youth Opportunity for Growth) to identify and support promising young entrepreneurs across the country, aiming to create employment opportunities through business development.
Under the programme, eligible young entrepreneurs will receive bank loans alongside grants equivalent to 50 per cent of the approved financing. Applications are being accepted from November 1 to November 30, 2026.
As part of the initiative, a promotional workshop was held at the Mohanpur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Rajshahi on Thursday to raise awareness among aspiring entrepreneurs about the programme's objectives, financing facilities, training and business support.
Mohanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahima Binte Akhtar delivered the welcome address, while Md Zainal Abedin, manager of Sonali Bank PLC's Mohanpur branch and chairman of the lead bank for the UDYOG programme, presided over the event.
Mamunur Rashid, additional director of Bangladesh Bank's Rajshahi office, attended as a special guest. Through a PowerPoint presentation, he outlined the programme's objectives, financing structure and implementation process.
The workshop was informed that the initiative aims to identify promising young people in every upazila and help them establish and expand their businesses.
Under the financing arrangement, 50 per cent of the approved amount will be provided as a loan and the remaining 50 per cent as a grant. However, applicants must qualify for the loan to be eligible for the grant. There is no provision for obtaining a grant independently.
For instance, if a business requires Tk 12 lakh, the bank may provide Tk 6 lakh as a loan and Tk 6 lakh as a grant, subject to assessment and approval. The actual financing amount will depend on the business requirements, proposed expenditure and final evaluation.
The loan and grant will be disbursed together in a single instalment to the applicant's bank account. No cash disbursement will be made.
The programme also allows financing without collateral in certain cases. Loans will be provided by scheduled banks, while Bangladesh Bank's refinancing facilities may be available depending on the business sector. Applicants will also have to submit post-dated cheques equivalent to the combined amount of the loan and grant.
The funds cannot be used for personal consumption, purchasing land or buying vehicles. If a borrower fails to repay the loan within the stipulated period or misuses the funds, the grant portion will be converted into a loan, making the entire amount repayable.
The initiative also places emphasis on financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, business advisory services and market linkages to improve the skills and sustainability of young entrepreneurs. Banks will be responsible for transparent selection, financing and monitoring of project progress.
Interested applicants can apply through any scheduled bank branch in their respective upazilas between November 1 and November 30. Having an existing account with the applying bank is not mandatory.
Application forms are available on the Bangladesh Bank website (www.bb.org.bd), the SME portal and the websites of scheduled banks. Applicants can also collect forms from bank branches or download and print them.
The required documents include a duly completed application form, a copy of the national identity card or birth registration certificate, the latest educational certificate (if available), training certificates (if any), a citizenship certificate issued by the relevant ward councillor or Union Parishad, and two recent passport-size photographs.
Following final nomination, the bank is expected to complete the loan approval process within 15 working days. However, nomination does not guarantee loan approval.
Among those present at the workshop were Syed Ali Reza, upazila youth development officer; Bachchu Rahman, organising secretary of Mohanpur upazila BNP; Principal Maulana Md Abdul Awal, ameer of Mohanpur upazila Jamaat-e-Islami; and Md Golam Mostafa Babul, president of the upazila Krishak Dal.
Branch managers and representatives of various banks, including Janata Bank, Agrani Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank, Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank, Palli Sanchay Bank, Islami Bank, Pubali Bank, Uttara Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, IFIC Bank and Social Islami Bank, also attended.
UP panel chairmen Md Jahangir Alam, Aminul Islam and Abdur Rashid, Md Shah Alam, president of the Bangladesh College Teachers Association (BAKSIS), Mohanpur unit, and Md Shahin Sagor, general secretary of Mohanpur Model Press Club and Rajshahi bureau chief of The Daily Industry, were also present, alongside journalists, representatives of different professions and aspiring young entrepreneurs.
An open discussion and question-and-answer session focused on the prospects of youth entrepreneurship, access to bank financing and the implementation of the programme at the local level. The workshop concluded with the chair's closing remarks.
