Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today test drove locally-made electric vehicles (EVs) and praised the manufacturers, assuring them of government support.

The Prime Minister inspected several EVs produced by Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) premises in the city’s Tejgaon area this morning, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan (Hasan Shiplu) told BSS.

At that time, he said, the premier himself drove a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a covered van.

Representatives of the manufacturing company informed the Prime Minister that Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited is the country’s first EV manufacturer.

They said the vehicles are fully battery-operated and environment friendly, requiring no fuel oil and comparatively less electricity consumption.

The company also stated that efforts were made to keep the vehicles affordable for ordinary consumers.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assured the manufacturers that the government would extend support if EVs are produced, ensuring all necessary standards and safety measures and if the initiative benefits the country.

Two SUVs, one covered van, one truck, one auto-rickshaw and two motorcycles were displayed on the PMO premises for the Prime Minister’s inspection.

Arriving at his office around 10:00 am, the Prime Minister inspected the vehicles before entering his office chamber. He first drove an SUV while a representative from the company explained various technical features of the vehicle. Tarique Rahman later drove a covered van as well.

After the inspection, the Prime Minister held a meeting in his office with company Chairman A Mannan Hossain Khan and Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir and discussed the market potential and future prospects of EVs in Bangladesh.

Following the meeting, Chairman A. Mannan Hossain Khan said that although the vehicles are manufactured using local technology, some raw materials still need to be imported.

“If we get tax benefits on these raw materials, it will be possible to bring cars to the market at a lower cost,” he added.

Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir said the vehicles were manufactured following European standards and could soon have export potential in international markets.

According to the company, an SUV can travel more than 450 kilometres on a single charge. Standard charging takes between five and six hours, while fast charging requires around 30 minutes.

Photo: PMO

Besides, the truck and covered van can each travel nearly 200 kilometres on a single charge. Their batteries require around six hours for regular charging and about 40 minutes for fast charging.

Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman and Special Assistant Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan were present on the occasion, among others.