The government aims to bring down the price of smartphones to between Tk 2,500 and Tk 3,000, Prime Minister’s Adviser on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad has said.

“The price of our devices should be made affordable and cheap,” he said at a seminar titled “New Telecom Policy: Expectations of Entrepreneurs,” organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at a hotel in the capital on Saturday.

He noted that even in 2026, around 50 percent of Bangladeshis may still not have access to smartphones, while the current lowest-priced devices cost around Tk 8,999 to Tk 10,000.

The adviser said he has discussed the issue with mobile retailers and manufacturers on how prices can be further reduced.

“I am talking to Bangladesh Bank and mobile operators in this regard,” he said.

He added that the target is to bring down the cost of mobile phones to Tk 2,500–3,000 so that farmers, daily wage workers and rickshaw pullers can also use smartphones.

“We are working so that people in villages can also access affordable smartphones. We are engaging with Bangladesh Bank, the NBR, and local manufacturers to reduce costs,” he said.

On computer prices, the adviser said countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have zero percent tax on certain devices, while Bangladesh imposes around 33 percent tax on computer monitors.

He said the government will work on the value chain and tax structure but cautioned that immediate results should not be expected.

“I do not want to give the impression that everything will be solved in the next two months. We will try to do as much as possible within this budget. If not now, this is the beginning of the process,” he added.