BNP Standing Committee Member and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Md Ismail Zabiullah has said the government is placing special emphasis on startups, entrepreneurship and innovation among the young people.

“To this end, a National Startup and Entrepreneurship Platform has been launched and taka 500 crore startup fund has been established to support the innovative initiatives,” he said.

The adviser made the remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of a three-day science and astronomy event titled “Third Inter Astronomical Appogee 2026,” at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College here as the chief guest.

Viqarunnisa Noon Astronomy Club (VNAC) of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College organized the ceremony at its campus at Bailey Road area here yesterday.

The adviser urged the students to make use of the opportunities provided by the government and devote themselves to startup projects.

Addressing the students, he said, “Over the next five years, I want young women from your Astronomy Club to emerge who will not only win prizes at astronomy Olympiads but also build satellite models with their own hands, develop functional drones, invent new sensors, obtain patents and establish startups. Let your innovations serve the welfare of the people of Bangladesh.”

The adviser said the students should work on innovative technologies to make the people’s lives safer, easier and better.

“They need to find out new solutions in areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, disaster management, the environment and communications,” he said.

Ismail Zabiullah said drone technology could create new possibilities for firefighting, flood forecasting and security management in densely populated city like Dhaka.

“I dream of a day when students of Viqarunnisa will use drones to stand beside the people in firefighting operations,” he said.

He said some students could work on low-Earth-orbit satellites, while others could develop drones for agricultural purposes or flood monitoring.

‘Some may develop artificial intelligence-based systems capable of providing early warnings of floods and cyclones, while others may create sensors to detect the contaminated water,” he said.

He also called on the students to develop technologies and innovations that would make the lives and agricultural activities of rural farmers easier.

Students from 15 leading colleges in Dhaka including Notre Dame College and Holy Cross College, participated in the festival.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Majeda Begum, acting principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. Teachers and students from the college and other institutions from the capital were present at the event.