Mobile phone handsets manufactured in Bangladesh have started being exported to the international market for the second time. In the next five years, digital devices produced in Bangladesh will be exported to 50 countries of the world, said the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar. As a result of the government's digital technology-friendly policy, mobile handsets manufactured in domestic factories have been meeting 73 per cent of the country's total demand since 2016, the minister said.
The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of Sisfani Mobile Phone Handset Manufacturing Factory in Ashulia, Savar on Saturday.
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Secretary Khalilur Rahman, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder and Edison Group Managing Director Zakaria Shahid spoke on the occasion.
The Minister for Posts and Telecommunications said that in line with the directive given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 8, 2015 to transform Bangladesh from a digital importer to a producer and exporter country, Bangladesh has been transformed from a country to a producer and exporter. The Minister is hopeful that Made in Bangladesh mobile handsets will be able to take a big place in the international market competition if we can ensure production of world class mobile handsets and comparatively affordable prices without compromising on quality. Describing his long experience of 35 years in the world of digital technology, Minister Mustafa Jabbar, a pioneer of digital technology development, said, “Our main strength is the young people.”
Mentioning that the boys and girls of this generation are very talented, he said, "Even without studying space science, our boys and girls are controlling Bangabandhu Satellite-1 from the ground station uninterruptedly and efficiently. Similarly, without reading about the production of digital technology, about 30,000 young people are working in the production process in 14 mobile factories of the country with efficiency.”
In his special guest speech, the Secretary for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said that it is a matter of great pride for the export of Made in Bangladesh mobile handsets to the international market beyond the borders of Bangladesh. He noted that the software and hardware industry, which has become a labor-intensive industry in Bangladesh, would further accelerate the country's progress.
The BTRC Chairman emphasized on the need to maintain the quality of the products manufactured and said that BTRC is working sincerely for the development of this industry including mobile handset manufacturing.
The Minister, Secretary, Chairman of BTRC and their entourage toured the various production units of the factory. During this time they talked to the workers working in different units of the factory. He expressed satisfaction over the production units of the factory.
