DHAKA, April 16, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh has reached a historic watershed in digital accessibility, with a staggering 98.9% of households now possessing mobile phone access, according to a recent survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The survey, titled "Survey on Measuring the Opportunities and Usage of ICT," was released today at the BBS office in the city.

Aleya Akter, Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division under the Ministry of Planning attended the report unveiling ceremony as the chief guest while Mohammad Masud Rana Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division; and Md. Mir Hossain, Additional Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division were present as special guests.

Md. Forhad Siddiq, Director General of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, presided over the event.

The report signals a paradigm shift in the nation’s developmental infrastructure, revealing that electricity—now available to 98.5% of households—has officially ceased to be the primary barrier to digital growth, clearing the path for mass mobile diffusion across the country.

Notably, the proportion of individuals using a mobile phone saw a slight statistical adjustment to 88.4% from 90.5% in 2023, a trend likely driven by more precise district-level reporting and widespread device sharing. While usage is high, personal ownership stands lower at 64.4%.

Internet usage has surged to 53.4% of the population, with intensity reaching new heights: 72.4% of active users now access the web at least once a day. 

However, computer use remains a capability bottleneck stagnant at 11.3%.

In a significant departure from previous years, the BBS has provided the first-ever official ICT estimates at the district level.

 This granular data is essential for "Resource Efficiency," "Accountability," and applying an "Equity Lens" to national planning, allowing the government to move beyond one-size-fits-all strategies.

The data reveals significant geographical disparities in digital access, showing that while Feni, Cumilla, and Chattogram lead in smartphone ownership and Dhaka and Narayanganj act as primary internet hubs, districts like Panchagarh and Kurigram remain the most disconnected with the lowest rates of both smartphone and internet penetration.

According to the survey, the Gender Gap Digital participation remains uneven across genders. 

Male mobile ownership stands at 70.0%, compared to 58.9% for females. This disparity extends to active use, where the internet use gap remains persistent (56.6% for males versus 50.2% for females).

 The gap is most modest for basic mobile use but widens significantly as users move toward smartphone ownership and internet-enabled participation.

The survey points to a "second-generation digital agenda," where the focus must shift from connecting people to building capability and resilience.

 While citizens are eager for transactional services—64.2% of users seek government job vacancies and 49.8% look for youth/sports information—actual e-commerce remains shallow. 

Only 11.6% of users have purchased goods or services online in the last three months.

Users can perform basic tasks but struggle with higher-order functions. While 84.4% of computer users can "copy and paste," only 15.6% possess the technical skills to transfer files or apps between devices. Furthermore, 50.5% of users remain vulnerable to digital risks, specifically viruses and infections.

The survey’s findings have culminated in a 6-point policy agenda intended to transition the nation from basic connectivity to meaningful inclusion.

These are expand affordable broadband; close the women’s ownership gap; strengthen device ecosystem; build meaningful use; invest in digital skills and safety; and institutionalize district monitoring. 

The 2024-25 survey is a high-credibility statistical operation involving a sample of approximately 264,000 households across 64 districts (averaging 4,125 households per district). 

The BBS utilized Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) for field-level data collection to ensure real-time validation and supervision.

Despite near-universal mobile access, the ICT Development Index 2025 highlights the urgency for continued growth. 

Bangladesh holds a score of 64.9, which remains below the global average of 78.

Critically, Bangladesh is being outpaced by neighbours such as Myanmar (69.7), Sri Lanka (71.4), and Bhutan (85.7), underscoring the need for the rapid implementation of the emerging policy roadmap to remain competitive in the regional digital economy.