Electric-powered private cars are coming to Bangladesh!

The Dhaka Times Desk We have been hearing about electric cars in different countries of the world for a long time. But now that electric car is going to come to Bangladesh!

According to media reports, authorities have already started working on charging policies for imported vehicles along with formulating policies for electric vehicles in Bangladesh. The officials concerned said that the import of motor vehicles is expected to start only after the policy is finalised.

Apart from the large number of electric-powered easybikes currently available in Bangladesh, there is no time frame as to when other vehicles, including private cars, will be able to be imported.

Yushub Ali Molla, Additional Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department under the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, told a news media that on Wednesday they also held a long meeting to finalize the policy regarding electric-powered vehicles. Another committee headed by a joint secretary was formed in the meeting. The committee will further review the draft policy and report back within 7 days.

He also said that after receiving the report, there will be a discussion again, the opinion of the ministry should be taken and discussions with many related parties. After passing these steps, we can finalize the policy and then give it to the ministry. It may take some time.

উল্লেখ্য, সারাদেশে অবৈধভাবে চলা বিদ্যুৎ চালিত যানবাহন, বিশেষ করে ইজিবাইককে শৃঙ্খলায় আনতে প্রায় দু’বছর আগে একটি খসড়া নীতিমালাও তৈরি করেছিলো বাংলাদেশ সড়ক পরিবহন কর্তৃপক্ষ কিংবা বিআরটিএ।

Although officials say that initially there was a disagreement between the government on whether to allow such electric vehicles to run or not, but later initiatives were taken to formulate policies for the import and operation of electric vehicles in view of the improved power situation and environment-friendly considerations.

As part of this work, BRTA was asked to submit a draft proposal by the Ministry of Road Transport, which essentially insisted on bringing electric vehicles under the purview of registration.

Sheikh Mohammad Mahbub-e-Rabbani, director of BRTA's road safety wing, told the media that they have discussed with BUET and sent a draft to the ministry.

He also said, 'now the ministry is working with this policy. They will finalize it and provide it on the website. Then we hope that all types of electric vehicles will be able to move.'

Taking initiatives to build charging stations

An inter-ministerial meeting has also been held recently on where or how the charging stations will be for electric vehicles after they are imported into the country or how the tariffs will be, the power department said.

Participating in this meeting, Minister of State for Power Nasrul Hamid also ordered to have electric vehicle charging team in every electricity distribution company.

At the same time, the charging policy of electric vehicles should be customer friendly, he said, to maintain the balance of the environment, the rise of electric vehicles will gradually increase.

In this inter-ministerial meeting itself, it was informed that while petrol-powered vehicles cost Rs 5,375 per 1,000 km, electric vehicles will cost only Rs 1,250 for the same distance.
Moreover, electric vehicles are more mechanically efficient than petrol-powered vehicles and are environmentally friendly vehicles. Source: BBC Bangla.

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