BB’s Udyog programme receives 18,444 applications from eight districts

Bangladesh Bank’s Udyog programme has received 18,444 applications from aspiring young entrepreneurs across 64 upazilas in eight districts during its initial phase, as the central bank prepares to expand the initiative to the remaining 56 districts from 1 November.

The programme, titled UDYOG: 

Upazila-based Young Entrepreneurs Identification and Financing Programme, aims to identify promising young entrepreneurs at the upazila level and provide financing to help them create employment and promote economic development.

During the activation phase, applications were collected from all upazilas in eight districts, one from each division: Manikganj, Feni, Naogaon, Jhenaidah, Bhola, Habiganj, Rangpur and Netrokona.

Young entrepreneurs submitted their applications to branches of scheduled banks located in the respective upazilas between September 16 and October 15, 2026, according to a Bangladesh Bank press release issued on Saturday.

Netrokona recorded the highest number of applications, with 5,351, followed by Rangpur with 2,745 and Naogaon with 2,456.

Jhenaidah received 2,191 applications, while Habiganj recorded 1,552, Bhola 1,545, Manikganj 1,343 and Feni 1,261.

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Following the initial phase, applications will be accepted in all upazilas of the remaining 56 districts from November 1 to November 30, 2026.

Interested young entrepreneurs in these districts will have to complete the prescribed application form and submit it to any scheduled bank branch located in their respective upazilas.

The application form can be downloaded from the Bangladesh Bank website, its SME portal and the websites of scheduled banks.

Bangladesh Bank issued the programme's guidelines on September 13, 2026. The guidelines are available on the central bank's website at www.bb.org.bd and its SME portal at www.bb.org.bd/smespd_portal.

The central bank has called for active cooperation from all concerned to ensure the successful implementation of the programme, which seeks to expand young entrepreneurs' participation in economic development, generate employment and promote innovative business initiatives.