Internet, mobile phone use rises in Bangladesh: BBS

Internet and mobile phone use among people aged five and above increased in Bangladesh over the past year, with the latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey showing broader access to digital services.

The proportion of individuals using the internet rose to 59.2% in the April-June quarter of 2026, up from 55% in the same period a year earlier, according to the ICT Access and Use Survey 2025-26.

Mobile phone use also increased to 89.6% from 88.2% a year earlier, while the share of people owning their own mobile phones climbed to 65.6% from 64.2%.

The survey found that 11.8% of individuals use computers.

BBS published the findings on Sunday (20 September) in its fourth-quarter report for 2025-26. The survey covered all 64 districts and used the Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method to assess ICT access and use at individual and household levels.

At the household level, 99% have access to at least one mobile phone, while smartphone access edged up to 75.1% from 74.8% a year earlier.

Internet access was available in 58.2% of households, the survey found.

Electricity access stood at 98.6%, while 60.1% of households had televisions, 15.3% had radios and 9.1% had computers.

The quarterly figures were compiled from 61,632 households across 2,568 selected sample areas nationwide.

BBS said the survey data will help track Sustainable Development Goals, support district-level ICT development planning and provide the International Telecommunication Union with data on 22 indicators.