Govt to protect investment in device industry: Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb

The government will ensure protection of investment in Bangladesh’s growing device manufacturing industry as the country stands at a critical juncture in its digital transformation, according to Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

He said: “If we look at the country’s device industry, we see that smartphone penetration stands at around 41–45 percent. In 2021, smartphones worth around 10 billion US dollars were sold in a year. Because of flawed policies and some illegal imports, that figure has fallen to around 8 billion dollars a year.” 

He spoke on Tuesday (December 2) as chief guest at the inauguration of commercial operations and construction work of three technology-based companies at the high-tech park in Kaliakoir, Gazipur.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said Bangladesh has reached “a very important turning point” on its digital transformation journey and must now focus on skills development, narrowing the gap between industry and academia, and creating quality jobs for young people.

Welcoming the move to manufacture mobile phones in Bangladesh, he said the government would stand firmly beside the industry so that it can expand further and investors can operate with confidence.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb stated that the authorities are now taking strict measures to prevent the illegal import of smartphones.

“We will activate NEIR on December 16,” he said, referring to the upcoming launch of the central registration system for mobile devices. “At the same time, we will review the import duty structure so that local production remains protected.”

He said the success of the device industry depends on striking the right balance between legitimate local production and legitimate imports.

“If we rationalise the tax structure, more companies will come to Bangladesh,” he added. “Then the smartphone usage rate can rise to 70–80 percent over the next few years.”

Information and Communication Technology Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park has now become the focal point of the country’s technology manufacturing sector.

He said new investments at the park will raise Bangladesh’s economy to a new level of capacity.

At the event, officials first inaugurated the commercial operations of Smart Hi-Tech Industry Limited. The company will now produce HONOR-brand smartphones in Bangladesh from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility built on 2 acres of land.

With an investment of about 120 crore taka, the unit has installed advanced technology for component assembly, testing and quality control of smartphones. In its first phase, the factory is expected to create jobs for approximately 800 to 1,000 people.

The company plans to expand into a broader range of electronics, including tablets, laptops, desktop computers, televisions, networking equipment, speakers, and cameras.

The ceremony also formally marked the start of construction by Heavens Light Private Limited. On around 2.5 acres of land, the company is building an advanced plant to manufacture AI- and IoT-based smart lighting and home automation products. It plans to produce smart lights, smart switches, drivers, control boards and related software. Over the next year, Heavens Light aims to invest about 50 crore taka and create employment for 300 to 400 people, with production scheduled to begin in March next year.

The third company, Bangla Cars, a concern of the well-known Hossain Group, has launched work on a new factory at the park. The plant will produce various models of fully homegrown, Bangladesh-branded cars. The company said it plans to invest about 150 crore taka over the next two years and create 500 jobs.

Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park, developed under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) as its first and one of its largest technology and entrepreneurship zones, now plays a key role in shifting the information technology sector towards a production-based economy. Many local and international technology firms have already invested there.

With modern infrastructure, plug-and-play facilities, strong connectivity and a manufacturing-friendly environment, the park has become a strategic investment hub for the country’s technology industry. It is now an essential platform for software development, electronics manufacturing, IoT processing and automation, and other industries linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Managing Director of the Hi-Tech Park Authority Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Director Md Nurunnabi, Managing Director of Smart Technologies (BD) Limited Mohammad Jahirul Islam, HONOR Bangladesh Country Director Lang Guo, President for South Asia Derek George Zheng, Supply Chain Division Chairman Derek Deng, and Smart Bangladesh Mobile Division Business Manager Abdullah Al Mamun also spoke at the event.