The production of mobile phones in Bangladesh experienced a significant decline in June, with a total reduction of 3.80 lakh units compared with that in the previous month.
According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission data, the total number of mobile phones produced in the country in June was 26.03 units, a significant drop from the 29.83 units that were manufactured in May.
Majority of the phones, a total of 20.41 lakh units, were equipped with 2G technology. Meanwhile, 4.07 lakh units were 4G-enabled, and 1.55 lakh units, featured the latest 5G technology.
In April, the production stood at 17.16 lakh units, and in March, it was slightly higher at 20.35 lakh units.
The last month before May that saw an increase in production was February, with 21.47 units produced.
Despite the overall decline in production, there was a significant increase in the production of 5G technology-enabled mobile phones in June.
The total production of 5G phones in June was 1.55 lakh units, a substantial rise compared with that of 2,000 units produced in May.
Feature phones, which are primarily 2G devices, dominated the production numbers in June. These phones accounted for 78.40 per cent of the total units manufactured, highlighting their continued popularity and demand.
In contrast, smartphones, which are more technologically advanced, made up 21.60 per cent of the production.
This was a significant drop from May, where smartphones constituted 24.81 per cent of the total units manufactured.
In May, feature phones represented 75.19 per cent of the total production, while smartphones made up 24.81 per cent.
The BTRC data also showed that there has been no production of 3G mobile phones in the country since January 2023.
This shift likely reflects the global move towards newer technologies, with manufacturers focusing on 4G and 5G devices instead.
The import of mobile phones into Bangladesh also saw changes in June. There was a decline in imports by 854 units compared with that in the previous month.
In June, 4,450 mobile phones were imported, while in May, the number was higher at 5,304 units.
Of the phones imported in June, 850 units were 5G technology-enabled, and 3,600 were 4G-enabled smartphones.
No feature phones were imported during this month.