Smart Technologies Launches Bangladesh’s First HONOR Smartphone Assembly Plant in Gazipur

The factory was formally opened on Tuesday (2 December) by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT. Senior representatives from the government, Smart Technologies and HONOR Global were also present.
 

The locally assembled HONOR X6c has been priced at Tk14,990, matching the cost of officially imported units. Unofficial variants, however, still sell for Tk1,000 to Tk1,500 less. When asked about the lack of a price drop despite local assembly, a senior Smart Technologies official explained that the company had previously been selling the imported model at a loss to stay competitive.
 

“We were the sole importers of this phone, and to survive in a highly competitive market, we had to sell at a loss,” the official said. “Even now, the price remains lower than many comparable models. Prices may go down gradually as more HONOR models enter the production line.”
 

Smart Technologies has so far assembled 15,000 units of the X6c. Once fully operational, the facility aims to achieve a daily capacity of 60,000 units. Managing Director Mohammad Zahirul Islam said the company has already invested Tk150 crore in the plant, which also produces Sony electronics.
 

“At this stage, we are assembling HONOR smartphones, but within six months we will enter full-scale manufacturing,” he said. “When operating at full capacity, the factory will employ more than 500 people. One production line is active now, and additional lines will be introduced soon.”
 

HONOR officials noted that the factory incorporates AI-assisted automation at several assembly stages to ensure precision and consistency in line with the brand’s global standards.
 

Speaking at the ceremony, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb described the launch as a milestone for Bangladesh’s digital transformation. He said the country is at a crucial juncture in expanding device accessibility, reducing skill gaps and generating high-quality employment.
 

“Smart and HONOR have fulfilled their commitment,” he said. “The government will soon activate the NEIR system to curb illegal smartphone imports and revise duty structures to give local assemblers an advantage. Data prices will also fall as Bangladesh connects to its third and fourth submarine cables.”

He added that upcoming cyber, data protection and digital governance laws would further strengthen investor confidence and help raise smartphone penetration from the current 40% to as high as 70–80%.
 

George Zheng, president of HONOR Southeast Asia, said the new plant embodies collaboration and shared ambition.

“This is not just a factory,” he said. “It represents a partnership where global expertise meets local capability. Our goal is to create an environment where skills grow, technology evolves and communities benefit.”