A significant digital disparity exists between urban and rural populations in Bangladesh, with individual internet usage in cities reaching 75.7 per cent compared to just 43.6 per cent in villages, according to a government survey released on Thursday.
The “ICT Application and Usage” report, published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), highlights that while three out of four urban residents are online, only four in ten rural inhabitants have adopted the practice, resulting in a substantial national gap of 32.1 per cent.
The findings also reveal that while 99 per cent of households nationwide use mobile phones, only 55.1 per cent are connected to the internet.
Barriers to connectivity, gender disparity
The survey identifies several reasons for the lack of internet penetration across the country, with 72 per cent of non-using households stating they felt the service was unnecessary.
Financial constraints remain a major hurdle, as 46.4 per cent of respondents cited the high cost of equipment and 43.6 per cent pointed to the high cost of internet services as significant barriers.
Gender inequality also remains prevalent in the digital sphere, as 56.6 per cent of men use the internet compared to 50.2 per cent of women.
Ownership of mobile phones reflects this gap further, with 70 per cent of men owning a device compared to 58.9 per cent of women, who also lag behind significantly in smartphone usage.
Digital proficiency and changing media habits Regarding digital literacy, the BBS found that 84.4 per cent of internet users are capable of using copy-paste functions, and 78.5 per cent reported being able to take swift action following a cyberattack.
The survey also highlighted user activities over the last three months, showing that 64.4 per cent of users sought government job information, 49.8 per cent searched for sports updates, and 11.6 per cent engaged in online shopping.
Interestingly, the report noted a rise in radio usage from 12.8 per cent in 2022 to 15.3 per cent in 2024-25, while television usage fell from 62 per cent to 59.6 per cent.
Kabir Uddin, director of the Computer Wing at BBS, explained that the rise in radio figures includes features found on mobile phones and charger lights, serving as a vital medium for weather updates in coastal regions.
Regional gaps and computer access Geographically, Dhaka leads in individual and household internet usage and computer access, while Panchagarh recorded the lowest levels of smartphone and internet usage.
Cumilla holds the highest rate of smartphone usage as a single district, whereas Thakurgaon has the lowest level of computer access.
On a divisional basis, Dhaka Division has the highest internet usage at 65.4 per cent, followed by Chittagong at 63.4 per cent, while Mymensingh Division recorded the lowest at 37.8 per cent.
National computer usage remains low at 11.3 per cent for individuals, with a sharp urban-rural divide of 25.6 per cent versus 5 per cent, and only 9 per cent of households currently have access to a computer.
