The finance minister, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, on Tuesday informed the Jatiya Sangsad that the government will propose a total allocation of Tk 400 crore in the national budget for the 2026–27 financial year to support start-up financing, women's entrepreneurship development, and the promotion of young entrepreneurs.

Responding to a question from Dhaka-4 lawmaker Syed Joynul Abedin during the third sitting of the first budget session of the 13th JS, the minister said the government is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing self-reliance among the country's youth.

He noted that the revised budget for the outgoing financial year 2025–26 had allocated Tk 200 crore to the start-up fund.

The minister stated that youth loan programmes are currently being implemented on easy terms through the employment bank. In addition, low-interest loans are being provided to small and medium entrepreneurs across the country through Startup Bangladesh Limited under the information and communication technology division, as well as through various funds managed by the finance division, Khosru said.

The minister added that special directives will be issued to the relevant banks and agencies to ensure that young people and small entrepreneurs can more easily access these facilities and receive essential technical training.

Addressing the expansion of social safety net programmes, Amir Khosru said the government has gradually increased both the number of beneficiaries and the allowance amounts provided under the social protection system nationwide.

He said the government is actively considering further expansion of the coverage and budget allocations for existing social safety net programmes in the upcoming financial year. These include family cards, farmers’ cards, old-age allowances, allowances for widowed and distressed women, disability allowances, and other initiatives aimed at supporting low-income and marginalised groups.