SANGSAD BHABAN, Nov 14, 2017 (BSS)- State Minister for Post and Telecommunication Tarana Halim today said the state-run Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) has so far marketed 37,000 mobile phone sets and 800 tabs after manufacturing and assembling.
Replying to a written query from treasury bench member Bazlul Haque Harun (Jhalakathi-1), she said the government has already taken initiatives for manufacturing and marketing of mobile phone sets through the TSS under the Post and Telecommunication Division.
“As part of the initiative, the TSS signed an agreement with the OK Mobile Ltd in 2014 and as per the deal, a mobile phone set manufacturing and assembling plant was set up in the TSS,” she said.
The state minister said a total of 37,000 pieces of mobile phone sets and 800 tabs have so far been marketed after manufacturing and assembling by the TSS.
Tarana also said the local electronic goods producing company Walton has applied for manufacturing, assembling and marketing mobile phone handsets locally.
In their application, she said, the Walton has set a target for manufacturing and assembling 50,000 mobile phone sets annually.
The state minister said besides, mobile phone sets importing companies Symphony and Okapia have showed their eagerness in manufacturing, assembling and marketing locally.
Tarana also said currently the number of mobile phone subscribers in the country is 13 crore, 59 lakh and 82 thousands and the number is increasing day by day.
The state minister said as Bangladesh’s market is favourable for mobile phone handset business, nearly three crore mobile phone sets are imported annually. Presently, the market size of mobile phone set market is nearly Taka 8,000 crore, she said.
Tarana said to meet the demand for mobile phone sets, the country has to import a huge quantity of mobile phone sets every year.
Responding to another written question raised by Awami League lawmaker Mamtaz Begum (Manikganj-2), the state minister said a total of 65,100 laptops have so far been manufactured in Doel Laptop Plant set up by the TSS.
“Of the laptops, 63,410 were sold out,” she said, adding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the marketing of “Doel brand” laptops/notebooks manufactured and assembled by the TSS on October 11 in 2011.