Experts and industry leaders have emphasised that Bangladesh should focus on boosting local capacity, enhancing value addition, and developing backward linkages in the agro-machinery, automobile, and light engineering sectors to ensure long-term growth and export diversification.

The call came during a sideline seminar on ‘Road to Made in Bangladesh; Automobile and Agro-Machinery Fair 2025’ held on Saturday in Dhaka, organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries in association with the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association, Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association.

M Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, presented the keynote, noting that local manufacturers meet only 20 per cent of agro-machinery demand, with 80 per cent still imported.

He warned that the agricultural workforce had been surpassed by the service sector, posing a threat to food security, and highlighted that Bangladesh loses up to 40–45 per cent of crops post-harvest due to poor handling, drying, and storage.

Masrur stressed that agri-machines could improve efficiency through precision sowing and irrigation, reducing seed, fertiliser, and water use. He compared Bangladesh’s low mechanisation and research capacity with India’s 47 per cent agricultural mechanisation rate and urged investment in R&D, incentives, labs, and skill development.

On the automobile and light engineering sectors, he said that local assembly accounts for less than 10 per cent of the domestic market and highlighted gaps in certification, with around 270,000 of 380,000 autorickshaws uncertified.

Masrur projected significant potential, with 90 per cent of vehicles expected to be person-oriented by 2050 and export potential for engineering products at $12.5 billion over five years, up from $535 million last year. The domestic light engineering market stands at over $8 billion with 28.3 per cent CAGR, supported by around 80,000 firms.

Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, speaking as chief guest, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making ‘Made in Bangladesh’ a globally recognised mark of quality.

He stressed development of manufacturing industries, technology transfer, research, innovation, and skilled workforce creation, highlighting agro-machinery, automobiles, and light engineering as priority sectors for employment generation, export diversification, and economic modernisation.

Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, emphasised diversifying the economy beyond ready-made garments, noting that remittances, RMG, and agriculture dominate while private sector growth remains sluggish.

He highlighted cost competitiveness challenges, citing Honda’s production costs being 10 per cent higher than competitors, and urged policy support and incentives.

Hafizur Rahman Khan, president of the Bangladesh Automobiles Assemblers and Manufacturers Association, called for identifying sectoral challenges through B2B meetings, while M Abu Eusuf of Research and Policy Integration for Development stressed the need for backward linkages, FDI inflow, and improved ease of doing business.

Alimul Ehsan Chowdhury, president of the Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, highlighted the link between agro-machinery and food security, calling for easier access to SME refinancing schemes and tax relief.

Abdur Razzaque, president of the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association, urged an action committee, dedicated cells, and affordable industrial parks for light engineering.

The two-day fair saw participation from 38 representatives across automobiles, agro-machinery, light engineering, banks, and universities, reinforcing the collective push for a ‘Made in Bangladesh’ industrial transformation.