Shikho CEO Joins Bloomberg’s 2023 New Economy Catalysts

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 9.0 billion startup fund aimed at accelerating economic growth by providing capital to new enterprises. The fund will be distributed through commercial banks and is part of the government's initiative to foster innovation and investment in the startup sector.

Bangladesh has unveiled a series of bold reforms and financial initiatives aimed at easing business operations and energizing the startup ecosystem. At the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, the central bank announced a Tk900 crore equity fund dedicated to startups, alongside an additional Tk500 crore fund combining equity and lending support.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has relaxed regulations, allowing start-ups to invest up to $10,000 abroad by establishing legal entities. This move aims to support start-ups in Bangladesh and promote innovation. Start-ups, which are in their initial stages, can now submit applications to authorized dealer (AD) banks for remittances up to $10,000 and must report the registration/incorporation of such entities within six months.

TRANSFORM, an impact accelerator led by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY, announced grants of up to BDT 10 million each for two Bangladeshi SMEs focused on climate resilience.

A proposed hike in gas prices by Petrobangla has sparked major concerns among industrialists in Bangladesh, fearing economic harm. Industrial leaders argue that the increase, if approved, could lead to factory closures, job losses, and reduced industrial output, harming economic growth and potentially causing social unrest.

In FY 2023-24, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) faced operating losses due to reduced trading, fewer IPOs, and increased costs. The DSE's core revenue of Tk 125 crore fell short of expenses, causing a Tk 20 crore loss, while the CSE incurred a Tk 10 crore loss with Tk 31 crore in core revenue.