Prime Minister Test Drives Domestically Manufactured Electric Vehicles

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has test-driven electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured using domestic technology. During the event, he praised the manufacturers and assured them of necessary cooperation.

On Saturday morning, he inspected several EVs built by Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited, which were brought to the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. At that time, he personally drove a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a covered van.

The manufacturer informed the Prime Minister that Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited is the country's first electric vehicle manufacturer. The vehicles are fully battery-operated and environmentally friendly. They do not require fuel oil, and electricity costs are relatively low. Efforts have also been made to keep the prices of the vehicles within reach of ordinary people.

The Prime Minister assured them that if electric vehicles can be produced ensuring all standards of quality and safety, and if the country benefits, the government will provide cooperation.

Two SUVs, one covered van, one truck, one auto-rickshaw, and two motorcycles were brought to the Prime Minister's Office premises for his demonstration. Arriving at the office around 10:00 AM, the Prime Minister inspected the vehicles before entering his office. He first drove an SUV.

A representative from the manufacturing company accompanied him, highlighting various technical aspects of the vehicle. Later, the Prime Minister also test-drove a covered van.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister went to his office with the manufacturer's Chairman, A. Mannan Hossain Khan, and Managing Director, Mir Masud Kabir. Discussions were held there regarding the marketing and potential of EV cars.

Following the meeting, the manufacturer's Chairman, A. Mannan Hossain Khan, said that although the cars are made with domestic technology, some raw materials must be imported. If customs duty concessions are provided on these raw materials, it will be possible to bring the cars to the market at a much lower cost.

Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir stated that the cars have been manufactured maintaining European standards, so there is significant potential for export abroad very soon.

According to the manufacturer, an SUV type of car can travel over 450 kilometers on a single charge. Under normal charging, it takes 5-6 hours to fully charge the battery, while fast charging takes half an hour. On the other hand, trucks and covered vans can travel approximately 200 kilometers on a single charge. These vehicles typically take about 6 hours to fully charge under normal conditions and about 40 minutes under fast charging.

Present on the occasion were the Prime Minister's Defence Advisor, Brigadier General (Retd.) A.K.M. Shamsul Islam; Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Aminul Haque; Prime Minister's Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar; Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibli; Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon; and Prime Minister's Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, along with other concerned officials.