Around 73% of households in Bangladesh now own a smartphone, with the Chattogram Division leading the country in device penetration, according to a new survey released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The survey, titled “Access to and Use of ICT at Individual and Household Level 2024–25,”found that 86% of households in Chattogram Division have smartphones, compared with 82% in Dhaka Division. However, Dhaka remains ahead in internet usage.
The report, unveiled on Thursday, presents district-level data for the first time. The event was attended by senior officials, including Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter, while Project Director Syeda Marufa Shaki presented the findings.
At the district level, Feni ranks highest in household smartphone ownership, followed by Cumilla, Chattogram, Noakhali and Brahmanbaria. Other high-ranking districts include Gazipur, Narayanganj and Dhaka.
In contrast, the lowest levels of smartphone ownership were recorded in northern districts such as Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur.
Despite trailing in smartphone ownership, Dhaka Division leads in individual internet use, with 66% of people online, slightly ahead of Chattogram’s 65%. Nationwide, 55% of households have internet access.
Responding to a question at the seminar, BBS Computer Division Director Kabir Uddin Ahammed suggested that higher smartphone ownership in Chattogram may be linked to remittance-driven households, where overseas workers contribute to greater device access.
The survey also highlights how Bangladeshis use the internet. About 11.6% of users purchase goods or services online. The most common use, however, is checking government job circulars, accounting for 64% of usage. This is followed by seeking sports-related information, at 50%.
On digital skills, the survey found that 84% of respondents can perform basic functions such as copy and paste, while only 15% are able to transfer files.
Additional Secretary Md Mir Hossain and Mohammad Masud Rana Chowdhury also attended the seminar as special guests.