State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque has highlighted the critical role of youth in driving economic growth and the need to further strengthen their contribution.
“We are committed to transforming the youth sector, ensuring that training leads to real self-reliance and strengthening skills development to create meaningful employment opportunities,” he said while speaking at a function on Sunday.
Above all, the state minister said their core priority is job creation and supporting the innovative potential of young people, especially young women.
The government, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Plan International Bangladesh, inaugurated the National Action Plan (NAP) to operationalize the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025.
Youth and Sports Secretary Md Mahbub Ul Alam said the government can create only 70 lakh jobs. He said this leaves many educated young people struggling with unemployment, which may contribute to social unrest.
“This action plan must take a holistic approach. We need to adopt a bottom-up approach and organize workshops in other divisions as well to make the process inclusive,” said the sports secretary.
Acting Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh Sonali Dayaratne said the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025 and its National Action Plan provide a timely opportunity to strengthen the ecosystem that enables young entrepreneurs to transform ideas into thriving enterprises.
“By expanding access to finance, skills, mentorship, and markets, while ensuring inclusion for young women, rural youth, and other underserved groups, we can unlock the full potential of youth entrepreneurship and contribute to a more resilient and prosperous Bangladesh."
Country Director, Plan International Bangladesh Kabita Bose emphasized the importance of inclusivity and equitable access for youth.
“We want young people not only to participate, but also to lead these initiatives. We hope this plan will not be city-centric and will ensure the leadership of women, members of ethnic minorities, and marginalized communities,” she said.
The workshop included technical sessions on the strategic overview of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025, the NAP formulation process, and stakeholder consultations to gather input from diverse actors, ensuring the plan is inclusive and actionable, according to UNDP.