Rajshahi: Hundreds of youths in Rajshahi are transforming their lives by becoming successful entrepreneurs after receiving skill development training and credit support from the Department of Youth Development (DYD).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ripa Khatun serves as a notable example of this transformation. After completing a three-month training course from the DYD in 2018, she launched a boutique business with an initial investment of around Tk 1 lakh. She later expanded her venture by securing an institutional loan of Tk 60,000 and an entrepreneurship loan of Tk 3.5 lakh. Ripa now manages Ripa Boutique from her home in Maskatadighi area under Matiher Police Station, employing 12 people, including three family members, and generating an annual net profit of about Tk 10.25 lakh.
Another inspiring figure is Piarul Islam from Bamanshikar village under Paba Upazila, who has become a role model in fish, poultry, and dairy farming. He operates farms that include 22 bighas of fish ponds, 15,000 poultry birds, and ten cattle, with additional fruit orchards on about 25 bighas of land. His annual net profit is approximately Tk 1.05 crore.
Last fiscal year, the DYD trained a total of 5,726 youths in Rajshahi district to help them become self-reliant. The department also provided loans totaling Tk 3.74 crore to 729 trained youths, while 926 others secured jobs through the DYD's self-employment generation program. Golam Mahabub, Deputy Director of the DYD, stated that both institutional and non-institutional training in income-generating trades were arranged during the last financial year.
Mahabub highlighted that young men received training in fisheries, poultry, dairy, cattle fattening, and animal husbandry, while young women were trained in tailoring, sewing, block printing, boutique work, and computer skills. Steps were taken to make young men and women self-reliant through various training and financial assistance.
The DYD also encouraged beneficiaries to prevent child marriage and dowry, promote safe maternity and sanitation, and combat drug addiction, terrorism, and extremism. Youth organizations were motivated to support environmental protection by planting and caring for trees, with nearly 100,000 trees planted so far, including 2,305 in the last financial year.
Golam Mahabub emphasized the DYD's ongoing focus on empowering youth through skill development and loan access without collateral, noting that the ceiling of youth loans has been increased to create more self-employment opportunities. He also mentioned the government's commitment to providing job-oriented training and expanding employment opportunities abroad for the youth.
Rezaul Alam Sarker, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Division, remarked that the country will progress through the power of its youth, many of whom have already become successful entrepreneurs. He recalled the significant role youths played in the democratic movement during the mass upsurge on August 5, 2024, and stressed the importance of prioritizing the energy and potential of young people in nation-building efforts.