The digital divide between urban and rural Bangladesh has widened further in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with individuals using the internet in urban areas now almost double that of rural regions, according to a latest survey of the national statistical agency.

Only 36.5 percent individuals in rural areas use the internet, compared to 71.4 percent in urban areas in the July-September period of fiscal year 2024-25, according to the ICT Access and Use Survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

This gap has widened compared to the last fiscal year when rural internet users were 36.4 percent of the people and urban users stood at 68.6 percent, reflecting a persistent inequality in digital access.

Experts attributed the disparity to limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and economic constraints in rural villages.

"The growing digital divide between urban and rural areas in Bangladesh reflects a troubling persistence of structural inequalities in digital access, engagement, and utility," said Zulkarin Jahangir, an assistant professor at North South University (NSU).

"While internet usage in rural areas has remained stagnant, urban adoption rates continue to rise, creating a widening chasm in opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic participation," said Jahangir, also a consultant on digital divide at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh.

According to him, this disparity is not merely about access to technology but highlights deeper systemic issues, such as affordability, digital literacy, and the limited availability of relevant local content or services for rural communities.

These challenges disproportionately affect marginalised groups, further entrenching social and economic inequalities.

Jahangir said that addressing this gap requires a citizen-centric approach that prioritises foundational digital services in rural areas.

"Policies should focus on reducing costs through subsidies or community-owned networks, enhancing digital literacy through localised training programmes, and ensuring the delivery of meaningful online services tailored to rural needs," he recommended.

He commented that closing the digital divide is not just a matter of fairness but a strategic investment in national development.

According to the BBS survey, the proportion of individuals using the internet in the country increased slightly by 1.2 percentage points to 45.7 percent in the July-September quarter.

The proportion of households with internet connections increased by almost 7 percentage points to 50.4 percent in the quarter compared to the last fiscal year.

From the last fiscal year to the first quarter of FY25, the number of mobile phone users increased by 0.4 percentage points to 90.9 percent.

During the period, mobile phone owners increased by 0.4 percentage points to 64.1 percent.

The period saw computer users rising by 1 percentage point to 8.9 percent and desktop users by 0.2 percentage points.

According to the BBS, the survey estimated national-level ICT indicators quarterly for individuals aged five and above, segmented by urban and rural areas.

Data is collected quarterly from 2,568 selected sample areas across the country, covering a total of 61,632 households (246,528 households annually) through random selection.

This survey provides insights into the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators while also delivering up-to-date and precise district-level information on ICT usage. It also highlights application by individuals and households, enabling the formulation of various development plans for the ICT sector.

The survey also found that 15.1 percent of households had radio, 63.5 percent television, 0.8 percent fixed phone and 98.2 percent electricity.

"The growing digital divide is deeply concerning, as it creates two distinct classes of citizens: one group that is IT-savvy and reaping the benefits of digital advancements, and another that is deprived of even basic government services," Syed Almas Kabir, former president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services.

"This inequality must be addressed urgently," he added.

According to him, internet transmission costs remain disproportionately high in rural areas, compounded by severe mismanagement.

"The bandwidth transmission fees charged by Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Networks are also excessive. Despite significant government investment in expanding fibre optic networks, transmission costs in rural areas are still much higher than in urban regions," Kabir added.

He said the regulator must step in to reduce the influence of intermediaries.