Market Research Companies in Bangladesh

Key figures for researchers

Population

169.8 million (2022 census, adjusted)¹

Urban population

31.7%¹

Households

41.0 million, 4.0 people on average (2022 census, preliminary)²

Under 15 / under 30

about 28.8% / 56.8%¹

Language

Bangla (official), first language of about 99%³

Literacy rate (7+)

74.7% (men 76.6%, women 72.8%)²

Internet users (5+)

58.6% of individuals (Jan.–March 2026)⁵

Mobile subscriptions

189.8 million active (June 2026)⁶

GDP per capita

about US$2,600 (2025)⁷

Research guide

Research landscape

Most market research agencies are based in Dhaka, the capital and main commercial hub, with some activity in Chattogram, the port city and second economic centre. Local independent agencies work alongside offices of international research networks, and many run their own field teams across several divisions.

Languages and fieldwork

Bangla is the official language and the first language of about 99% of the population, so general public questionnaires are written and administered in Bangla. Regional varieties such as Chittagonian and Sylheti can call for local interviewers, and the 1.65 million people from ethnic communities, concentrated in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, may need their own languages. English is common for B2B and executive interviews.

A national sample should cover the eight divisions in proportion to their weight: Dhaka (45.6 million people), Chattogram (34.2 million), Rajshahi (20.8 million), Rangpur (18.0 million), Khulna (17.8 million), Mymensingh (12.6 million), Sylhet (11.4 million) and Barishal (9.3 million). With 68.3% of the population in rural areas, rural fieldwork is essential. In face-to-face fieldwork it is common practice to use female interviewers for female respondents, especially in rural and more conservative areas: check this with the agency when you set quotas.

Which methods work

Connectivity is growing: there are 189.8 million active mobile subscriptions, and 58.6% of people aged 5 and over use the internet, but only 65.4% own a mobile phone themselves. Online surveys and telephone interviews (CATI) work well for urban, younger and educated targets, and for B2B.

For the general population, especially women, older people and rural areas, face-to-face interviews (CAPI) with quotas by division, area type, age and gender remain the reference. Online samples tend to over-represent urban, male and educated respondents: ask the agency how the panel is recruited and weighted. Focus groups are usually held in Dhaka and Chattogram, often in separate groups for men and women.

Timing

Ramadan changes daily routines: working hours are shorter, fieldwork often moves to the evening and consumption patterns change. In 2027 it is expected around early February to early March (exact dates depend on the moon sighting). Fieldwork stops around Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (around May in 2027), when many people travel to their home villages. The Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh (mid-April), is a national holiday.

The monsoon normally runs from June to September and can last until mid-October, with heavy rain and flooding that can cut access to rural areas, especially in low-lying and riverine districts. Plan extra time and contingency for face-to-face fieldwork in these months.

Data protection

The Personal Data Protection Ordinance 2025, gazetted in November 2025, was replaced by the Personal Data Protection Act 2026, passed by Parliament in April 2026. It requires consent that is specific and can be withdrawn, with information on purpose, retention and third-party transfers; parental consent for respondents under 18; stronger protection for sensitive data such as health, financial, genetic or biometric data; and restrictions on large-scale transfers abroad of national ID, passport and tax numbers.

Some obligations apply in stages and implementing rules are still expected: check the current position with your agency or a local lawyer. Ask how respondents give consent, how personal data is stored and anonymised, and how the data will be transferred to you.

Working with a local agency

• Share a clear brief: objectives, target, sample size, divisions, urban/rural split, method, languages and deadline.
• Ask who does the fieldwork: own interviewers or subcontractors, in which divisions, and whether female interviewers are available.
• Ask about quality control: back-checks, GPS or audio checks for face-to-face interviews, supervision of CATI calls.
• Ask how fieldwork is planned around Ramadan, Eid and the monsoon, and how flood-affected or hard-to-reach areas are handled.
• Ask how consent is collected and how data is stored and transferred under the Personal Data Protection Act 2026.
• Compare several proposals: you can send one request to up to 5 companies from this page.