The number of households with internet connections reached 56.2 percent during the July–September period of the financial year 2025-26, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
In its quarterly publication, titled “Report on ICT Access and Use Survey 2025-26,” the BBS indicated that households with at least one internet user stood at 55.1 percent for FY 2024-25 (estimated) and 43.6 percent in 2023.
Despite more than a decade of rapid internet growth and smartphone services, about 48.9 percent of individuals aged five and older were direct internet users during this period, according to BBS data.
The report highlights that almost half of the population remains digitally excluded, even as online services increasingly influence access to education, healthcare, finance, and government support.
Speaking to New Age, AKM Fahim Mashroor, former president of the Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services, noted that around half of the population in Bangladesh lacks internet access. He stated that the situation is worsened compared to neighboring countries; in India, over 70 percent of the population is online, and in Pakistan, the figure exceeds 60 percent, which is disappointing for Bangladesh.
Mashroor attributed the low internet usage to high data costs, mentioning that consumers face over 50 percent in VAT, taxes, revenue sharing, and spectrum-related charges. He pointed out that internet is still considered a luxury good, with a 20 percent supplementary duty imposed on it. Additionally, smartphone penetration in rural areas remains low, partly due to high prices.
He emphasized that maintaining low internet usage rates hinders digital progress. The government should focus on reducing internet prices and increasing smartphone penetration to foster a more inclusive online environment.
Among households, 64 percent were urban users, while 51.5 percent were rural. The report also indicated that of the individual users, 46.3 percent were female and 51.2 percent were male.
The BBS collected data from individuals aged five and older from 61,632 households across 2,568 selected areas in the country, aiming to inform national ICT policy and report to international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the SDG Tracker.
The survey revealed that about 98.9 percent of households have at least one mobile phone, with 99 percent from urban areas and 98.9 percent from rural areas. Approximately 80.6 percent of the population uses mobile phones, while 56.5 percent own their mobile phones. Among individual mobile phone users, 80.9 percent were male and 78.8 percent were female, highlighting a significant gender gap in ownership.
During Q1 of FY26, 72.4 percent of households owned a smartphone, with 80.8 percent from urban areas and 68.8 percent from rural areas.
The survey also provided insight into access to other technologies, revealing that 59 percent of households have a television, 15 percent have a radio, and 9.1 percent own a computer. Additionally, about 99 percent of households are covered by electricity, according to the survey.
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