Experts on Friday highlighted the need for targeted government policy support to strengthen the local electric vehicle (EV) industry.

They emphasised areas such as research and development, capacity building, import duty reduction, and technology adaptation as crucial for driving the industry’s growth.

The remarks were made during a seminar titled ‘Electric Vehicle Industry of Bangladesh: Policy – Challenges – Prospects,’ organised by Sevour International Limited at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka.

According to a press release, the speakers explored the future of Bangladesh’s transportation sector, with a focus on enhancing sustainability through adopting electric vehicles and promoting eco-friendly transport solutions.

Shish Haider Chowdhury, Information and Communication Division secretary of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology, said that use of EV was significant in different countries, including EU, USA and China, and about 80 per cent vehicles in Norway and Sweden comprised of EV while in China, it was 25 per cent.

‘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.

Shish Haider also said that he would talk about the industry with the government’s higher level, including the National Board of Revenue and customs department, to resolve the problems.

Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the Bangladesh Automobiles Assemblers and Manufacturers Association and Bangladesh Electric Mobility Association, sought zero duty on imports of EVs and its parts for the next three years for the sake of the industry’s development.

‘There will not be found any diesel or octane run vehicles in next 20 years. So, we should think about the matter and take proper policy now,’ he added.

Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor Md Ashraful Hoque emphasised on industry and academia collaboration.

Hafizur Rahman Khan, vice-president of BAAMA, Sk Aminuddin, director of Akij Group and chief executive officer of Akij Motors, Md Ehsan, mechanical engineering department professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Nasima Jahan B Binty, managing director of Blue Solutions Limited, among others, were present.