Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged young citizens to put national interests first on Friday, 17 October 2026, while speaking at an event in Dhaka. According to a report by The Business Standard, he made the call during the Youth Volunteer Award 2026 and Grant Distribution ceremony held at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister Office in Tejgaon.
During the event organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Tarique Rahman announced that the government is planning to launch a startup fund worth Tk 500 crore. He stated that the size of this financial support will increase if required to help young people realise their potential.
The Prime Minister noted that youths are voluntarily helping citizens alongside their studies and jobs. He highlighted that young participants drove events during the War of Liberation and the 2024 mass uprising.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque addressed the audience about government plans for youth development during the programme. Prime Minister Political Adviser Mirza Abbas also attended the event where youth volunteers from all 64 districts joined online.
Tarique Rahman presented the Youth Volunteer Award 2026 to 15 volunteers and youth organisation representatives for their community work. Each of these 15 award recipients received a cheque of Tk1 lakh alongside a crest and a certificate.
The government distributed grants of Tk2 lakh each to 432 youth organisations to support their ongoing activities. Three award recipients shared their personal experiences of voluntary work at the ceremony.