Rajshahi Divisional Youth Startup Summit 2026 Held at RU

Al-Mahmed Bijoy,RU Correspondent: To foster innovative thinking among young entrepreneurs and strengthen startup culture, the “Rajshahi Divisional Youth Startup Summit 2026” was held at the University of Rajshahi (RU). The day-long summit was jointly organized by YOUReach (Youth in Research and Action for Social Change) and DEIED.

The summit took place on February 2 (Monday) from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the University of Rajshahi. Funded by the World Bank and the ICT Division, the summit witnessed the participation of nearly 1,000 registered students and young entrepreneurs. Participants from different universities across the Rajshahi Division took part in three segments: Audience Participation, Business Idea Competition, and Startup Showcasing.

Addressing the summit virtually as the Chief Guest, Shish Haider Chowdhury , NDC, Secretary of the ICT Division, stated that startups play a crucial role in creating new entrepreneurs. He emphasized that strategic support, networking with industry experts, and government assistance are essential for a successful startup journey and assured continued support from the ICT Division.

As a Special Guest, Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Naqib, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajshahi, said that ideas are the most valuable asset in today’s world. However, he noted that despite having ideas, social and economic barriers often hinder implementation. He added that lack of capital and a traditional job-centric mindset frequently discourage young people from pursuing entrepreneurship.

The summit was also attended by Professor Dr. Khademul Islam Molla, Vice-Chancellor of Varendra University.

Approximately 100 teams participated in the Business Idea Competition, from which 10 teams advanced to the final round. A total prize pool of BDT 200,000 was announced for the competition. 

Additionally, young entrepreneurs from Rajshahi showcased their products and prototypes at stalls set up outside the auditorium, attracting significant interest from participants.

Tahfim Hasan Mehedi, Co-founder of YOUReach and one of the key organizers of the summit, said, “The main objective of the divisional startup summit is to develop young entrepreneurs from the Rajshahi Division and build a regional startup ecosystem. We aim to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with established startups so that their small initiatives can grow successfully.”

Dr. Md. Nurul Momen, Director of Career Counseling and Advisor of YOUReach, highlighted the importance of financing, stating that government support can play a vital role in transforming business ideas into reality and contribute to regional development.

YOUReach is a youth-led organization founded by students of the University of Rajshahi. The organization has been actively working on research-based education, addressing social issues, skill development, and entrepreneurship. Through this summit, YOUReach aims to build an effective startup ecosystem in North Bengal, particularly in the Rajshahi Division, ensuring that students from remote colleges and universities also get opportunities to become entrepreneurs.