Sabira Sultana, a successful entrepreneur from Narayanganj, has been selected for the National Youth Award this year in the “women” category for establishing a garments factory and creating employment for 130 young women.
Sabira will receive the award from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today at a ceremony marking National Youth Day 2013, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar told reporters at his office on Thursday.
The prime minister will also present awards to 15 other self-employed entrepreneurs from across the country at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
The Department of Youth Development (DYD) under the Ministry of the Youth and Sports will also organise a discussion meeting on the occasion.
Sabira, who could not get a job even after searching for five years, took a sewing course under the DYD. She then set up a garments factory with a loan from the department.
Now, she is a successful entrepreneur of, employing 130 young women at her factory in Narayanganj. She also exports her products, and her annual net profit comes to around Tk929,500.
The other awardees include Mizanul Haq Sarkar, a successful information technology (IT) entrepreneur from Mollikpur in Sunamganj district, who has been selected in the merit category.
Mizan did a computer training course and started a business in the rural area with loans from DYD. His annual net profit is now Tk363,450.
Nurul Arefin Linkon, owner of a poultry farm at Mahinando in Kishoreganj, and Naznin Parvin of RK Mission Road in the capital will also get awards in the merit category.
Masing Nyu Marma of Chemi Dolupara in Bandarban district will get an award under the tribal quota.
Tamanna Moslem Mira of Alipur in Faridpur, Mahiuddin Ahmed of Razapur in Feni, Selim Reza of Galimpur in Natore, Abu Abdullah Al Azad of Sakhipur in Satkhira, Nazma Parvin Simu from Barisal, Kamran Hossain of Satpor in Moulavibazar and Asmaul Husna Ripa of Ramnagar in Dinajpur will be awarded under the divisional quota.
Faisal Rahman, executive director of Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha in Jhalkathi, Zakir Hossain Mohin, founder of Grameen Janaunnayan Sangstha in Bhola, and Irin Begum, general secretary of Nabadiganta Mohila Sangstha in Jessore, will receive awards as youth organisers.