Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday test-drove locally manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) and praised the initiative, assuring full government support for the country’s growing EV industry.
In the morning, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition of electric vehicles organized at his office in Tejgaon by Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
During the visit, Tarique Rahman personally drove a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a covered van manufactured by the company.
Company representatives informed the Prime Minister that Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited is the country’s first electric vehicle manufacturer. They said the vehicles are fully battery-powered, environmentally friendly, and require no fuel oil, while electricity costs remain comparatively low.
The manufacturers also said efforts were made to keep vehicle prices affordable for ordinary consumers.
The Prime Minister assured the company that the government would provide necessary support provided quality and safety standards are properly maintained and the initiative benefits the country.
A total of seven vehicles were displayed on the Prime Minister’s Office premises, including two SUVs, one covered van, one truck, one autorickshaw, and two motorcycles.
After arriving at his office around 10:05 am, the Prime Minister inspected the vehicles before entering the office premises. He first drove an SUV while company representatives briefed him on its technical features. Later, he also test-drove a covered van.
Following the demonstration, the Prime Minister held a meeting with company Chairman A Mannan Hossain Khan and Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir to discuss the marketing and future prospects of electric vehicles in Bangladesh.
After the meeting, Chairman A Mannan Hossain Khan said that although the vehicles are being manufactured using local technology, some raw materials still need to be imported. He added that production costs could be reduced further if duty benefits are provided on imported raw materials.
Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir said the vehicles have been produced maintaining European standards, creating strong export potential in the near future.
According to the company, the SUV can travel more than 450 kilometers on a single charge. Under normal charging conditions, it requires around five to six hours for a full charge, while fast charging can recharge the battery in approximately 30 minutes.
The truck and covered van can travel nearly 200 kilometers on a single charge. Their batteries require about six hours for a full charge under normal charging conditions and around 40 minutes through fast charging.
Among others present during the visit were Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser retired Brig Gen AKM Shamsul Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, and Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan.
