Bangladesh’s mobile phone production experienced a significant decline in February 2025, dropping to 13.88 lakh units from 18.19 lakh units in January, marking a decrease of 4.31 lakh units, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
Feature phones, mainly 2G devices, made up 58.18% of the total production in February, a decrease from 65.14% in January. On the other hand, the share of smartphones in total production rose to 41.82%, up from 34.86% the previous month.
The data revealed a marked decline in 2G phone production, which fell to 8.08 lakh units in February from 11.81 lakh units in January. Similarly, the production of 4G-enabled phones also dropped, reaching 5.56 lakh units in February compared to 6.32 lakh units the month prior. In contrast, the production of 5G-enabled phones saw a modest increase, rising to 0.25 lakh units from just 0.05 lakh units in January. Despite this growth, the total number of 5G devices produced remains low compared to other technologies.
According to the BTRC, the production of 3G-enabled phones in Bangladesh ceased in January 2023, in line with the global shift toward more advanced mobile technologies. February’s production volume represents the lowest since May 2023, when 8.72 lakh units were manufactured. December 2024, however, recorded the highest production volume in recent months, with 24.38 lakh units.
The declining production of mobile phones reflects changing consumer preferences and industry priorities. While feature phones still dominate the market, their share continues to decrease as smartphone production grows. The rise of 5G-enabled phones, though modest, indicates a gradual adoption of next-generation mobile technology in Bangladesh.
In terms of mobile phone imports, February 2025 saw a significant increase, with 7,620 units imported, all of which were 4G-enabled devices. This marked a sharp contrast to January, which saw only 850 units imported, all of them 5G-enabled phones. December 2024 recorded 900 imported units, including both 4G and 5G models. The highest import volume in recent months occurred in November 2024, when 22,500 units were brought into the country, all 4G devices.
Interestingly, no feature phones were imported during this period, with 100% of imports consisting of smartphones. This shift underscores the growing preference for advanced mobile technologies in the Bangladeshi market.
