07/04/2025
Many commonly used products in Bangladesh come from the US and Israel, supporting their economies. US-based brands include Google (Search, Gmail, YouTube), Facebook (Meta: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram), Microsoft (Windows, Office), Apple (iPhone, Mac), Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble (Head & Shoulders, Ariel), Johnson & Johnson, and Colgate. Israeli-linked products are less visible but include Waze (now owned by Google), Intel chips (researched in Israel), Mobileye (used in modern cars), and cybersecurity technologies. To avoid supporting these economies, there are alternatives. Instead of Google or YouTube, users can try DuckDuckGo, Baidu, or Rumble. For messaging and social media, Telegram, Signal, and VK offer non-US options. For software, Linux and LibreOffice replace Microsoft, and WPS Office offers a Chinese solution. Hardware alternatives include phones from Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme, and Samsung. For drinks, Bangladeshi brands like Mojo, Pran, Frutika, and Clemon are good substitutes for Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Toiletries can be bought from local brands like Square, ACI, and international alternatives like Himalaya or Patanjali. Navigation alternatives to Waze include Sygic and HERE WeGo. By choosing these options, consumers in Bangladesh can reduce indirect support for the US and Israeli economies and support local or alternative markets instead.