Renowned global mobile brand HTC has returned to the Bangladesh smartphone market with devices now locally manufactured, marking a milestone for the country’s electronics sector, industry insiders said.
The company’s new model, the HTC Wildfire E7 Life, is being produced and marketed in Bangladesh by local firm Salextra Limited and is now officially available in the market, executives said.
Once a global leader and widely recognised as the maker of the world’s first touchscreen handset and first Android smartphone, HTC played a defining role in shaping the modern mobile industry. After a long hiatus, the brand’s decision to resume production in Bangladesh reflects confidence in the country’s growing capability to build world-class mobile devices.
The Wildfire E7 Life is positioned as an affordable smartphone. It is powered by a Unisoc Tiger T615 octa-core processor and features a 6.745-inch HD+ display with a waterdrop notch and in-cell technology that offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 480 nits of brightness.
In the camera department, the handset comes with a 50MP + 0.08MP dual rear camera setup, an uncommon feature at this price point, and an 8MP front camera. It is equipped with 6GB of RAM, 128GB internal storage, and a 5,000mAh battery, and runs on Android 16. The device is available in Grey and Champagne Gold colour variants and is priced at Tk12,999.
Mamun Khan, Head of Marketing at Salextra Limited, said the Wildfire E7 Life delivers strong value in its segment. He said the device’s 50MP camera and overall feature set give it a competitive edge in the Bangladeshi market, and that local manufacturing had helped ensure quality while keeping prices affordable for consumers.
Founded in Taiwan in 1997, HTC launched the world’s first touchscreen wireless handset within a year of its establishment and later began producing Windows Mobile-based PDAs and smartphones in 2004, releasing products under the HTC brand in 2006. In 2008, HTC gained global recognition as the pioneer of Android smartphones with the launch of the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1), the world’s first Android phone.
Although HTC’s global market share declined amid intense competition from Apple and Samsung, the brand is now aiming to reclaim its position through strategic markets such as Bangladesh.
Industry observers said HTC’s return is not just the revival of an iconic brand but also a milestone for Bangladesh’s industrial sector. Local production of globally recognised smartphones is expected to attract further investment, facilitate technology transfer and generate employment in the country.
As part of a launch offer, customers purchasing the HTC Wildfire E7 Life will receive 5GB of free data for seven days from Grameenphone. Two additional data packages are available: 10GB for seven days at Tk99, and 40GB for 30 days at Tk298. These packages can be availed multiple times over six months.
