Staff Correspondent

Experts on Friday underscored the need for specific policy support from the government as well as research and development to boost the local electric vehicle (EV) industry.

They came up with the recommendations at a seminar titled “Electric Vehicle Industry of Bangladesh: Policy – Challenges – Prospects” organised by Savor International Limited at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.

Automobile industry leaders, engineering department professors and government officials spoke at the seminar, with a focus on making Bangladesh’s transportation sector sustainable, specifically through the adoption of electric vehicles and other eco-friendly transportation solutions.

Information and Communication Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said EVs are being increasingly preferred in the world’s major economic powerhouses including the EU, the US and China. Around 80% of vehicles run on electricity in Norway while the share is 25% in China.

“We have to keep pace with the world. We need a lot of research and building capacity as well as specific policy to grow the EV industry in Bangladesh. We also need more consultation with stakeholders to overcome challenges. We have to patronise the industry. Otherwise it may stumble,” he added.

Haider also said that he will raise the issues at the government’s higher level including at NBR and customs department to resolve these.

Abdul Matlub Ahmad, presidents of both Bangladesh Automobiles Assemblers and Manufacturers Association (BAAMA) and Bangladesh Electric Mobility Association (BEMA), sought zero duty on imports of EVs and their parts for the next three years for the sake of the industry’s development.

“No diesel- or octane-run vehicles will be found in world markets after about 20 years. So, we should think about the matter and adopt appropriate policies now,” he added.

Vice Chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology Professor Dr Md Ashraful Hoque emphasised industry and academia collaboration for facilitating EV manufacturing in Bangladesh.

Hafizur Rahman Khan, vice president of BAAMA; Sk Aminuddin, director of Akij Group and CEO of Akij Motors; Professor Dr Md Ehsan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at BUET; Nasima Jahan B Binty, managing director of Blue Solutions Ltd; Amirul Islam Savor, chairman of Savor International Ltd; and Md Faizul Alam, managing director of Savor International Ltd, were present on the occasion.