PM Opens Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a three-day ‘Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026’ today.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the three-day Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026, urging innovators to turn home-grown ideas into commercial products and connect them directly with the market.

Organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the fair is being held at Novo Theatre in the capital’s Bijoy Sarani under the theme “Innovate to Market”.

The fair aims to build sustainable partnerships among local innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, educational and financial institutions, innovative organisations and development partners.

Government and private research organisations, 73 public and private universities, independent researchers, students, emerging startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and global investors are participating in the event.

More than 1,000 new and promising innovations in technology, business, education, health, agriculture, environment and other sectors are being showcased.

Organisers said many promising technologies and ideas developed at the grassroots level fail to reach the implementation stage due to a lack of policy support, initial funding and institutional cooperation.

Removing administrative and financial barriers, ensuring intellectual property protection and facilitating commercial expansion are among the fair’s key objectives, they said.

On the second day of the fair, a special international session titled “Healthcare Innovation for All: Expanding Access to Affordable and Inclusive Healthcare” will be held.

The session will focus on technologies for delivering affordable and quality healthcare to marginalised people at their doorsteps.

Prime Minister’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman is scheduled to attend the session as the chief guest.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) and the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are strategic partners of the fair, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing technical support.