From divide to inclusion: Building Bangladesh’s digital future

On a recent visit to Gazipur—barely an hour and a half from my office—I found myself reflecting on Bangladesh's extraordinary digital journey.

I recalled a time when only a fortunate few could afford a mobile phone.

In the early 1990s, as Bangladesh began its economic resurgence, thousands migrated to Dhaka in search of opportunities. Technology grew with them. Internet cafés appeared across the city, where people queued to check emails or explore unfamiliar online worlds. From those modest beginnings, telecom and internet services have evolved into everyday essentials, transforming the lives of millions.

What was once a privilege is now inseparable from daily life. Internet connectivity has reshaped how people move, trade, and communicate—through ride-sharing platforms that ease commutes, online marketplaces that power small businesses, and digital financial services that promote inclusion.

During the pandemic, children attended virtual classes, doctors treated patients through telemedicine, and freelancers connected to clients across continents. These are not just signs of technological progress; they reflect how access can change the course of a nation.

Driving Bangladesh's digital ecosystem

Over the years, Banglalink has been at the heart of this transformation—evolving from democratising mobile communication to enabling Bangladesh's broader digital ecosystem. Through platforms such as the MyBL Super App, Toffee, and RYZE, we have sought to place opportunities directly into people's hands. From communication to entertainment to digital learning, our goal has always been to make technology both accessible and meaningful.

My trip to Gazipur reminded me that progress in Bangladesh remains a journey of unfolding possibilities. Around 40% of people there still use feature phones, and for many, digital services such as F-commerce or online banking remain new frontiers waiting to be discovered. They may not distinguish between 4G and 5G. Bangladesh cannot be viewed only through the lens of Dhaka's progress; places like Gazipur embody what comes next—where millions stand on the threshold of digital inclusion, ready to embrace tomorrow's opportunities.

The inclusion challenge

Gazipur mirrors thousands of communities across the country. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, nearly half of the population still lacks internet access. The gap between rural and urban areas is stark—only about 36% of rural residents use the internet, compared to over 70% in cities. These figures represent millions still disconnected from the opportunities that digital technology brings.

Bangladesh entered the 4G era in 2018 with the promise of faster, more reliable connectivity, and the network infrastructure has since expanded significantly. Yet infrastructure alone cannot create inclusion. Around 62% of mobile phones in the country are now smartphones—most 4G-ready—but only about 6.6% support 5G networks. The real challenge is affordability.

For many households, especially in rural areas, buying a smartphone remains out of reach. A single device can cost the equivalent of several weeks' income, making digital access a matter of privilege rather than possibility.

Bridging the affordability gap

Device affordability has become the defining barrier between inclusion and exclusion. High import taxes, limited financing options, and the absence of consumer credit make smartphones expensive for the majority. Expanding network coverage is essential, but without affordable devices, the dream of universal connectivity will remain incomplete.

The solution lies in collaboration. Telecom operators, financial institutions, and regulators must work together to make smart devices accessible to all. Successful global models offer guidance—subsidised devices through partnerships, instalment schemes for gradual payment, and digital-bank-led credit for first-time buyers.

Local manufacturing also has a key role to play, but it needs policy support and protection against illegal inflows of unauthorised handsets that distort the market.

According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, feature phones still make up nearly 70% of all locally produced handsets. Encouraging legitimate production and fostering partnerships with international manufacturers can help reduce prices, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. The goal should be to make quality smartphones available to everyone—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for participation in the digital economy.

Inclusive connectivity for every minute

At Banglalink, we believe connectivity is meaningful only when it includes everyone. As a digital operator, our DO1440 strategy—creating digital opportunities for every one of the 1,440 minutes in a day—stems from our belief in care and connection.

Every minute holds potential: a student learning online, a farmer checking market prices, or a small business managing orders through a mobile app. Each story reminds us that technology has the power to make life easier, healthier, and more hopeful.

As a customer-first brand, we focus on understanding people's needs and designing services that respond to them. Democratizing internet access for all Bangladeshis—regardless of income or location—remains central to everything we do.

Inclusion before innovation

While 5G often dominates headlines, the real priority today is ensuring that no one is left behind. 5G will eventually transform industries—from automation to advanced healthcare—but the real progress begins with bridging the gaps that still exist.

The true measure of development lies not in how fast our networks are, but in how many lives those networks can touch. Expanding smartphone access, strengthening rural coverage, improving service quality, and enhancing digital literacy are the steps that will make connectivity truly empowering.

My visit to Gazipur was a powerful reminder that inclusion must precede innovation. When technology becomes accessible, people adopt it with remarkable speed and creativity—as seen in Bangladesh's embrace of mobile banking, e-commerce, and online learning. The potential for progress is everywhere; it simply needs the right support to flourish.

Every person in Gazipur holding a smartphone, every farmer checking the weather, every shopkeeper managing inventory on a mobile app, every student accessing lessons online—each represents a story of possibility waiting to unfold.

True digital inclusion means more than building towers; it means building connections that touch lives. The next phase of Bangladesh's progress will depend on how inclusive our technology becomes and how deeply it reaches those who need it most.

A digitally equal society is one where fairness and opportunity define access—where technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier. From divide to inclusion, Bangladesh's digital journey is a story of progress and possibility—one we are shaping together.

Telecom operators, policymakers, partners, and citizens all share a common purpose: to ensure that everyone is part of the nation's digital future. The real power of connectivity is not defined by signal strength or speed—it lives in the stories it inspires, the voices it empowers, and the dreams it helps fulfil.

Every connection is a spark of hope—an opportunity to learn, to earn, and to thrive.