The Dhaka Times Desk The number of smartphone users in Bangladesh is 41 percent of the total mobile phone users. This information is available from a report published by GSMA in April 2021.
On the other hand, in a report published by the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency-BTRC, it is also known that the use of smartphones in the country has started to decrease. Moreover, the feature phone market is also increasing.
In this regard, the BTRC report shows that the number of locally produced mobile handsets in the month of August is 72.70 percent of feature phones and 27.83 percent of smartphones; Which was last January, feature phones 66.45 percent and smartphones 33.55 percent.
Meanwhile, in another part of the report, it has been observed that the import of smartphones in the country has also decreased. 99.48 percent of feature phones were imported into the country last August. And smartphones were imported at 0.52 percent (total 34 thousand 179 sets), which in January this year was 88.87 percent of feature phones and 11.13 percent of smartphones. The total number of sets is 61 thousand 891.
In January this year, 41 lakh 45 thousand pieces of smartphones have been produced in the country. Out of which 2-G phones are 27 lakh 54 thousand, on the other hand 4G 13 lakh 68 thousand and 5G 23 thousand. In the month of August this year, the total number of phones produced is 29 lakh 70 thousand. Out of which 2G phones are 21 lakh 43 thousand, 4G 8 lakh 23 thousand and 5G 3 thousand phones. According to this calculation, the production of mobile phones has decreased in the month of August compared to the last month of January.
Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that abnormal growth of gray market, growing feature phone market and decrease in production and import of smartphones could be one of the reasons for the change in people's behavior.
He said that feature phones are currently available in the market for 1000 taka. It takes several times more money than that to buy this smartphone. Maybe this time people don't want to spend much money on these things. Maybe the economic factor can also be a big factor.
He also said that the picture in the BTRC report is not the real picture. 5.5 crore people are currently using Facebook in the country, but Facebook cannot be used on feature phones. That is why the image in the report is not the real image, the minister commented.
Things to do to prevent Corona virus
# try to stay at home all the time.
# Follow the rules and use mask when going out for emergency.
# three-layer cloth mask can be washed if desired.
# wash clothes after coming home from outside. Or hang it without shaking for at least four hours.
# Wash hands thoroughly (for at least 20 seconds) with soap or liquid before coming outside.
# plastic PPE or eyes, face, head must be washed thoroughly with detergent and dried after one use.
# Wear PPE made of cloth or clean as described.
# Use a head cap that completely covers the hair.
# Those who have sneeze cough should follow all the rules promulgated by the government. Also, wash hands as directed before and after handling food items, keys, switches, mice, remote controls, mobiles, watches, computer desks, TVs, etc. and after using the bathroom. Those who have dry hands use Moisture after washing their hands. Soap or hand liquid can be used. Why can this virus remain in the crackle (cracked part) of dry hands? Avoid using highly alkaline soaps or detergents.
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