We were tired of buying the wrong thing.
Biqolpo (বিকল্প — “alternative”) is a Bangladesh-first index of swaps someone wishes they had known about a year ago. A cheaper AI. A healthier oil. A jute bag instead of a plastic one. A neighbour's honey instead of imported sugar water.
Not an affiliate site. A magazine of better choices — written by people who live, buy, cook and build here.
Every shelf in Bangladesh has a better answer. We just have to know its name.
Four ruleswe don't break.
Editorial honesty matters more than reach. These keep the index trustworthy.
- Rule 01
Local first, not local only.
If a Bangla-made version stands on its own merit, we lead with it. If an imported one is genuinely better, we say so.
- Rule 02
Receipts over rhetoric.
Every swap names a real reason — a price, a study, an ingredient list. No vibes-based recommendations.
- Rule 03
Cheaper isn't always better.
Sometimes the better alternative costs more — and lasts ten years. We index value, not just price.
- Rule 04
No paid placements. Ever.
Brands cannot pay to enter the index. Sponsorships, if any, get disclosed in a banner you can't miss.
From spreadsheet to public index.
- Step 012025
The annoyance
Founder buys ৳3,200 imported honey that tastes like syrup. Asks: what's the local one?
- Step 022026 Q1
First 100 swaps
Spreadsheet becomes a public list. Friends start sending corrections and additions.
- Step 032026 Q2
Biqolpo.com launches
8 categories. 32 verified swaps. Newsletter ships weekly picks.
- Step 042026+
Community index
Submissions, verification badges, Bangla translation. A public utility.
You know an alternative we don't.
Most best entries came from a reader emailing us a name. A grandmother's soap maker. A software you migrated to. A village honey co-op. Tell us — we read every reply.
One swap, every Friday.
Short, researched. One product, one better alternative, and where to get it in Bangladesh.