Samsung
Samsung thrives as Seoul mulls pardon of corporate heir
Pressure is mounting on South Korean President Moon Jae-in to pardon Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is back in prison after his conviction in a massive corruption scandal, even though business has rarely looked better at South Korea’s largest company.
Lee is just the latest South Korean corporate boss to run his business from behind bars, communicating decisions through visiting company executives. But his imprisonment is causing national handwringing over the future of the technology giant in the country sometimes called the “Samsung Republic.”
Many people — from business leaders and editorial writers to even Buddhist monks — have urged Moon to release Lee for the sake of an economy heavily dependent on Samsung’s technology exports. They worry Lee’s imprisonment could compromise Samsung’s speed and decisiveness, hindering its competitiveness in the fast-changing technology business.
Lee has been in prison for nearly four months and few expect him to serve his full prison sentence through July 2022. There’s speculation Moon could free him on Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on Wednesday.
Read:Samsung Galaxy A72 Full Review: Is it worth buying?
There’s also Liberation Day in August, which celebrates Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. That also has often brought presidential pardons of high-profile politicians and businesspeople.
Moon’s office said he will consider both the intensifying competition in the semiconductor market and public feelings about fairness before deciding whether to pardon Lee.
Lee runs Samsung as vice chairman. He’s also the country’s richest person. He is serving a 2 1/2-year sentence for bribing then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante, who are serving lengthier prison terms, to win government support for a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that tightened his control over the corporate empire.
Samsung’s latest results suggest it is doing just fine.
The company posted a near 50% jump in operating profit and its $58 billion revenue was the highest ever in the first three months of the year. Demand for its mainstay computer memory chips, TVs and other products has surged as the pandemic has forced millions to stay home. And Samsung’s sleek Galaxy smartphones and tablets are the biggest competition for Apple’s iPhones and iPads.
Samsung has announced ambitious plans to expand its computer chip manufacturing. Last week it said it will invest 171 trillion won ($151 billion) through 2030 in higher-margin logic chips and its foundry business for contract chipmaking as it expands beyond its dominance in memory chips. The company expects demand for advanced chips to soar in coming years, lifted by emerging technologies such as fifth generation (5G) wireless networks, artificial intelligence and self-driving cars.
Still, analysts say Samsung is increasingly falling behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in the race for high-tech chips. The world’s biggest contract chipmaker, TSMC controls 55% of the global foundry business versus Samsung’s 17% share, according to South Korea’s Trade Ministry.
Both could be threatened by U.S. efforts to reduce American dependence on Asian supply chains and rebuild the declining U.S. chip industry in response to chip shortages that have hobbled American auto manufacturing in recent months.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Samsung said Lee’s role is to “contribute to the company’s overall strategic direction, and make decisions related to the future growth through his insights and global network of business leaders.” The company declined to comment on calls for Lee’s release and also would not say how often company officials are visiting him.
“It’s not difficult for Lee to manage the company from prison through his visitors, and it’s not like he had ever run Samsung like an omnipotent king,” said Chung Sun-sup, chief executive of corporate analysis firm Chaebul.com. Even though Lee is the grandson of Samsung’s founder and is the family’s third generation helmsman of the company, important decisions are still weighed by the board, he noted.
Read:Facing $11B tax bill, Samsung heirs donate mass art trove
“But who knows what Samsung is missing when Lee isn’t visiting business sites or traveling abroad for new opportunities?” he said.
Lee’s imprisonment comes at a time when Samsung should be pushing for a major reshaping of its semiconductor business, said Lee Seung-woo, a senior analyst at Seoul-based Eugene Investment and Securities.
Samsung’s rise as a global technology powerhouse drew from its dual strength in parts and finished products. But that’s proving a disadvantage in its competition with TSMC as major clients like Apple shift orders to TSMC to avoid relying on chips manufactured by a competitor.
Samsung should be considering bold moves, such as splitting its foundry business into a separate company and listing it on the U.S. stock market to ease the concern of clients, Lee said.
“Lee Jae-yong clearly has a role to do,” he said. “Lee could be meeting (Apple CEO) Tim Cook asking Apple to invest in the new foundry company.”
Samsung’s daily operations are mainly handled by co-CEOs who each lead its semiconductor, smartphones and consumer electronics divisions. Samsung reaped robust profits during Lee’s earlier stints in jail, in 2017 and 2018, when it finalized a deal to acquire American auto electronics firm Harman. That assuaged jitters about a possible void in decision making.
Legal troubles have long dogged the company. Lee’s late father, its former chairman Lee Kun-hee, received suspended sentences in 1996 and 2008 for crimes including bribery and tax evasion.
The scandal that snagged Lee Jae-yong again underscored traditionally cozy ties between “chaebol,” or South Korea’s family-owned conglomerates, and the government. Park was ousted and jailed in 2017 following months of protests by millions.
Moon has been sidestepping the pardon issue for months, having taken office vowing to curb the excesses of chaebol families after winning the presidential by-election following Park’s ouster.
South Korea has long been lenient toward white-collar crimes, letting convicted tycoons run their businesses from prison. Officials say that’s best for the economy even though the crimes committed by chaebol bosses usually put their personal interests ahead of corporate concerns.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won held nearly 1,800 meetings with his lawyers and other visitors in 17 months through July 2014 while serving a four-year prison term for embezzlement and other crimes, according Justice Ministry comments to lawmakers.
Read:Samsung reports profit jump driven by strong chip deman
Hyundai Motor Corp. reportedly set up a “liaison office” nearby to receive guests and staff visiting its former chairman Chung Mong-koo after he was arrested in 2006 on charges of embezzling company funds to bribe officials.
Chey and Chung received presidential pardons, as did Lee’s father.
The calls for Lee’s release show Samsung still holds excessive influence, said Park Sang-in, a professor of public enterprise policy at Seoul National University. He believes pardoning Lee would damage public trust.
“Was there ever a time when pardoning a chaebol boss really helped a company or the Korean economy? No, not even once,” Park said.
Samsung Galaxy A72 Full Review: Is it worth buying?
Samsung has added another high-performance smartphone to its Galaxy A series. The series has already become known worldwide for presenting some top-end smartphones to users. The added latest model is A72. It has, like all other phones of the series, stimulated people’s attention. On its surface, the phone is a combination of a selected few Galaxy phones like A52, A71, and several others from the Galaxy S series. However, the endeavour becomes praiseworthy because of the Galaxy A72’s comparatively low price. Keep on reading this Samsung Galaxy A72 review, if you are curious about a smartphone and want to know is it really worth it for its price.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy A72
Design
Among all the other features of A72, its design has made it stand out from mainstay glass and metal tradition. The Samsung Galaxy A72 features attractive candy-like colour schemes. In addition, the phone shows delicacy in detailed finishing. It will be a delight to hold the phone in hand.
The A72 is made of polycarbonate, while the mid-frame is metal. Just like the A52. The back of the phone is plastic made. But the matte textured back can hide this fact giving a metal look. The only reason for Samsung to use a plastic body is to check for any further weight gain. Because with even the plastic body, A72 weights 203g.
The candy-light colour brings a fresh feel to the overall look of the phone. The camera bump on the back has verisimilitude with the ones from Galaxy S21 series. However, the bump is not too steep and don’t look unnatural. The cameral holding rings are well furnished and give a somewhat visual flair. The pastel paint colour work gives an artistic tone.
The power, as well as the volume buttons, are placed on the right side of the phone, the sim tray is on top of the phone, while the primary speaker, as well as a 3.5 mm jack, are at the bottom-placed on either side of a type-C USB port.
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Display
Like its peer A52, A72 has a 6.7-inch display. It is a full HD with a resolution of 2400×1800 and 800 nits of brightness. When it comes to customizability, the phone gives only two options. Users can choose from Natural or Vivid colour modes. They can also tweak the white balance.
The newly implemented 90HZ AMOLED display is arguably the biggest change made by Samsung this year. With such a higher refresh rate, manoeuvring feels smooth on the phone.
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Camera
Just like the Galaxy A52, the Samsung Galaxy A72 has four rear cameras and one secondary camera on the front. The four rear cameras include a primary camera of 64MP, an ultrawide 12MP angle 12MP camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera along with a 5MP macro camera. The secondary front camera is 32 MP. A72 just replaces the 5MP telephoto camera of A52.
The camera performance of the Samsung Galaxy A72 is much like those of the Galaxy 52. It comes with enabled OIS, which satisfies the snapping experience. Both phones deliver similar results, though. In daylight, the phone takes less time to focus. Even in indoor condition, all cameras show quick response. The credit goes to the OIS feature. The colour restoration is more accurate in daylight and other places with good lighting condition.
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Performance
Galaxy A72 incorporates Snapdragon 720G. This version of the Snapdragon comprises 2 Kryo 465 Gold cores. The maximum clock speed of these processors is 2.3 GHz. The other 6 Kryo 465 silver cores have up to 1.8GHz clock speed.
To process the graphics, A72 uses the Adreno 618 GUI. Many features are common with the A52 features. But higher Ram and Storage capacities, Samsung Galaxy A72 perform better. The phone introduces two variants. One is of 6GB RAM with 128GB memory, and of 8GB RAM with 256GB ROM.
Samsung Galaxy A72 is i67 qualified. That means the phone is completely water and dust protected.
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Battery and Charging
Galaxy A72 comes with a 5000 mAh battery, which is definitely an upgrade from its sibling A52, which has a 4,500 mAh battery. But they both show similar endurance lasting over a day and a half with mild to heavy use. It should be the A72’s 0.2” larger screen that is making the difference.
If considered without drawing any line or comparison, the battery performance won’t let anybody down. Regular users are already praising the battery life offered. Another mentionable aspect is the phone has a 90Hz refresh rate. It lets users enjoy all the best features without worrying about battery life.
The charger is 25W and takes around one and a half hour to charge the phone from 0 to 100%.
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Specs of Samsung Galaxy A72
Samsung Galaxy A72 Specification
Supported Network
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Dimension & Weight
165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in); 203 g
Materials
Gorilla Glass on both front
Display Type
Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits
Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio; 394 ppi
Storage
Memory: 256 GB & 128 GB; Ram: 8 GB & 6 GB
Variant
128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
CPU
Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
GPU
Adreno 618
Chipset
Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
Primary Camera
64MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 8MP (telephoto), 5MP (macro), OIS, 3x optical zoom
Secondary Camera
32 MP (wide)
Video (Primary)
4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Video (Secondary)
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
Loud stereo speakers, 3.5 mm Jack
Connectivity
WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C 2.0
Sensor
Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery and Charging
Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable; 25W
Colour
Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
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Samsung Galaxy A72 Price in Bangladesh
Samsung Galaxy A72 is the latest of the entire Galaxy A series phones. So, it is the most advanced one of the series. While costing the most, too, it is not a flagship. However, considering the functionality and features, A72 is definitely a near-flagship piece.
For all these high-end features, Samsung Galaxy A72 with 6GB Ram + 128 storage will cost BDT 41,999, and the 8GB + 256GB variant costs BDT 45,999.
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Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A72 is the missed heir of the thorn that couldn’t make the flagship for a bit. However, it gives people a near experience with a mid-level budget.
Most Samsung Galaxy A72 reviews have agreed upon a single point that the phone is a versatile one. Be it the speed, or performance or the camera, the phone covers all the areas with high-end efficacy. It’s definitely worth it.
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Top flagship smartphones for 2021 in Bangladesh
The demand for flagship phones has kept growing even amid the pandemic as more people now want to get the latest and best devices of the leading brands.
Best of all the latest technology is put into these flagships, with brands competing to outdo each other in this segment. So, the price of flagship phones has lowered quite a bit and.
Although the phones can still cost a hefty amount, they are now progressively more within the reach of regular consumers.
Here are four of these flagship smartphones that are available in the Bangladesh market in 2021.
iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
These two are the most advanced and powerful smartphones produced by Apple to date. Both of them run on the IOS 13. They feature a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
Inside the device, there is an A13 Bionic chip. Both of the phones are dust and water-resistant and feature three cameras on the back and one on the front.
Also read: The top 6 flagship smartphones of 2020
The front camera is 12-megapixel, and the rear cameras include a 12-megapixel primary camera, 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera.
The 64GB storage-equipped iPhone 11 Pro will cost Tk84,915. But the version with 256GB and 512GB will cost Tk97,665.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max costs Tk93,415 for the 64GB variant. But the 256GB and 512GB variant will cost Tk106,165.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The S20 FE comes equipped with a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The phone's quad-camera system includes a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 12-megapixel wide, and 8-megapixel telephoto lens camera.
The Exynos 990 processor inside the S20 FE is powered by a 4,500mAh battery. It also features a 25W fast charging technology.
The retail price for Samsung Galaxy S20 FE in Bangladesh is Tk64,999.
Also read: Top Flagship Smartphones: Who Is Offering the Best Deal?
Vivo X60 Pro
Vivo's newly launched flagship phone X60 Pro comes with a great camera system.
The cameras on the phone have Carl Zeiss lenses and Gimbal stabilisation 2.0 Pro technology. The lenses enable the phone camera to take professional quality photographs and videos.
With 12GB of RAM and 256GB ROM, the phone is equipped to carry out heavy-duty, supported by 33W flash charging.
In Bangladesh, the X60 Pro is the first smartphone from vivo's X series and is available for Tk69,990.
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Samsung brings unique offers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr
Samsung Consumer Electronics Bangladesh has brought an array of offers on its products – including TVs, refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machine and microwave ovens – through its Eid-ul-Fitr campaign, which will continue until April 30.
Shahriar Bin Lutfor, head of business at Samsung Consumer Electronics Bangladesh, said: "The campaign is a great opportunity for Samsung enthusiasts to enhance their collection of innovative products at an affordable price."
Also, entertainment lovers can boost their cinematic experience at home with Samsung's 75-inch and 55-inch QLED or UHD T-Series TVs and soundbars.
Apart from up to Tk50,000 cashback, customers can also enjoy the "Buy One Get One" offer if they purchase either a 75-inch or 55-inch QLED or UHD T-Series TV.
Moreover, 50% discounts will be applicable on soundbars with the purchase of selected TVs. Customers can also enjoy 36 months of equated monthly installment (EMI) facility at 0% interest on selected TVs.
They can also enjoy a cashback of up to Tk15,000 and an extra discount of up to Tk23,000 on exchange offers of side-by-side refrigerators.
Instant cashback will be available on a few home appliances – 12% on air conditioners and 16% on washing machines. Also, customers will get up to tk3,000 cashback on microwave ovens.
They can buy the products online and enjoy the discounts, too. All the appliances and TVs will be delivered to the customer's home without any charge, read a press release.
Best washing machines under 25000 taka in Bangladesh with Buying Tips
We are accustomed to completing our household chores through maids. When it comes to washing the clothes, we entirely depend on the maid. Some may prefer laundry services, but those are time-consuming and may damage your clothes. Therefore, washing clothes in the house could be the only solution. But nowadays, finding a regular maid seems rare in some parts of the city. And you may not have enough spare time to wash your clothes after a long day. So, a washing machine will certainly come in handy for these situations. We have listed some of the best washing machines under 25000 takas in Bangladesh with some buying tips.
Washing machine buying guide in Bangladesh
Whether you are a newbie or an experienced user, you should know some important factors before buying a washing machine.
Loading Type
Loading type signifies the way you will load your clothes. Usually, loading options are front loading and top loading. However, both of the loading types offer their own advantages and advantages.
Function type
Typically, washing machines for the home come with two function types, fully automatic and semi-automatic. Depending on your family you may choose the one you need. You should find the details on the brochure or product package.
Capacity
Determine the capacity based on family size, how many clothes you will wash, or how frequent you will wash. However, practice will vary according to capacity.
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Washing machine types
Typically washing machines type manual labor alongside the number of functions. Therefore, it is categorized into two types; Semi-automatic washing machine and Fully automatic washing machine. Semi-automatic machines are normally entry-level washing machines that have two tubs, and one is used for washing while the other one is used for dying. Semi-automatics require more human intervention.
On the other hand, fully automatic machines are usually categorized based on loading type. One is the top load washing machine, and the other one is a front load washing machine. The automatic machine has only one tub, and the single tub can wash and dry the clothes. Hence, it requires less human involvement. The top load washing machine offers less function than the front load washing machines.
Other things to look at before buying
Apart from the above-mentioned criteria, you will need to check other important features, too, such as the material of the tub, spin cycle, wash setting, temperature control, fuzzy logic, and time delay.
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6 Best washing machines under 25000 in Bangladesh
Following is the list of the washing machine under 25000 takas. However, we have included under 10000 washing machines and under 20000 washing machines too.
Vision Twin Tub Washing Machine 6.5kg
It is one of the cheapest but robust products from Vision. It can wash your clothes in 15 minutes with 5 min spin time. The spin speed will be 1300 r/minute which is relatively fast on a 220V/50Hz power speed. However, you can wash the clothes in a normal and gentle mood. After it is done with the washes, it will rinse your clothes automatically.
Vision Twin Tub Washing Machine can wash 6.5Kg clothes at a time. Although the price on the official website is 10,700 taka, most of the time, you will buy it from as low as 9,000 takas because of the promotional price.
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Walton Washing Machine WWM-STP80 8.0 kg
It is much stronger than other machines within this price range. And it can easily take a heavy load of large-sized clothes. The fashionable flower design on large temper clothes increases the decoration of your home.
The air-dry feature is so effective that the natural wind can pass at high speed, which eventually dries the clothes quickly. However, it is made with plastic but can last for your whole life. It can wash 8kg clothes at a time, but a 6kg load can handle the spin properly. The regular price of WWM-STP80 is 13,500 taka.
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Whirlpool Superb Atom 70S Semi-Automatic Washing Machine - 7 KG
Superb Atom 70S Semi-Automatic comes with a wide range of features. Firstly, the smart scrab station gives you the opportunity to scrab your clothes in a standing position, though scrabbing is not necessary. Secondly, the inbuilt memory auto-start helps the machine to remember from where to start in case of any power cut during the washing time.
The large wash tub provides enough space to spin your clothes. As a result, it boosts the dirt removal process. A super-efficient 340w motor enhances the cleaning process and reduces the washing time. The continuous soak and the scrub process will take only 25 minutes to finish the whole process. Whirlpool Superb Atom 70S will cost taka 16,800.
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Sharp Top Loading Full Auto Washing Machine (ES-718/7Kg)
It is a fully automatic top-loaded type washing machine that can take a load of 7kg. It comes with fuzzy control and with a 700 RPM spin speed. The washboard texture stainless steel tub provides the perfect washing performance as your clothes don't get damaged. It can also auto start after a blackout or power cut off. Although the regular price is 30,000 taka, the discounted price is 22,390 taka which remains the same all year round.
SINGER Full Automatic 7KG Washing Machine
Singer's full automatic washing machine comes with six preset programs, which include normal, quick soft, heavy, quick wash, delay wash, and more. Furthermore, the child lock feature increases safety. The 600-800 rpm spinning speed enables quick washing. You can set and check everything on the LED display. SINGER Full Automatic 7KG Washing Machine is priced at 22,990 taka, which is quite reasonable with all those features.
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Samsung Top Loading Washing Machine WA70M4300HP/IM 7.0 KG
The six blades provide an intense and wide shower that removes the dirt effectively as well as rinses thoroughly. Besides, the stainless steel pulsator ensures a high-performance washing that is scratch-resistant too. It comes with an Eco Tab Clean course that keeps the top load washer fresh without having any harsh chemicals. The 600-800 rpm spin speed can easily take a load of 7kg clothes. This piece of the machine from Samsung is priced at 25,000 taka.
If you are a budget buyer or a bachelor, you may consider a vision twin tub, while the mid-range buyer can check out the under 20,000 washing machines. Moreover, if you don't want to do much research you can buy any of the washing machines we have mentioned here.
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Samsung brings Galaxy M02 for first-time users of smartphone
International brand Samsung has recently launched a new budget-friendly device called Galaxy M02, which comes with a 5,000mAh battery (usually available with flagship series).
Samsung Galaxy M02 price in Bangladesh
The device comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM and available at BDT 9,599, and 3GB RAM with 32GB ROM at BDT 10,999, said a press release.
Also read: Samsung Bangladesh launches Galaxyshopbd.com
Galaxy M02 is perfect for first-time users or people who are looking for a great phone in a limited price range.
Samsung Galaxy M02 Key Features
Display
The device comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display. The big display is perfect for online work and classes, while the immersive screen will enhance movies and gaming experience.
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Camera
Galaxy M02 comes with a dual rear camera with 13MP as the primary sensor and a 2MP Macro lens. The primary camera has f/1.9 apertures, allowing you to snap stunning shots even in dim light.
The macro sensory will enable consumers to take spectacular close-up shots. The device also comes with a 5MP front camera allowing you to capture natural selfies and conduct high-quality video calls for meetings and classes.
Also read: Samsung launches new campaign 'Samsung Promise'
Performance
It has a robust battery of 5,000mAh, allowing people to enjoy work-from-home, online classes, music, movies, and gaming without worrying about recharging it often.
The phone also packs a punch in its price segment due to 2GB/3GB RAM, 1.5 GHz Quad-Core processor, and 32GB ROM.
Design
Samsung Galaxy M02 comes in four colors – black, red, grey, and blue, in Matt designs. The colors are perfect for young millennials and GenZ.
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Samsung reports profit jump driven by strong chip deman
Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday its operating profit for the last quarter rose by more than 26% as it capped off a robust business year where its dual strength in parts and finished products allowed it to thrive amid the pandemic.
Samsung air conditioner manufacturing plant launched in Narsingdi
Fair Electronics on Wednesday launched Samsung air conditioner manufacturing plant at Narsigndi’s Shibpur.
Samsung brings 90 days' warranty on spare parts
Samsung Bangladesh has recently launched a service for "out of warranty" spare parts of its consumer products and mobile phones.