Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inspected electric vehicles manufactured by Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited, which were brought to the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital’s Tejgaon. During the inspection, he personally test-drove a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a covered van.

The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Hasan Shiplu, stated that the Prime Minister praised the initiative for locally manufactured electric vehicles and assured that the government would provide necessary support if quality and safety standards are ensured.

Representatives of the company informed the Prime Minister that Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited is the country’s first electric vehicle manufacturer. The vehicles they produce are fully battery-operated and environmentally friendly. These vehicles do not require fossil fuels, and their electricity consumption is lower compared to conventional cars.

The manufacturer further noted that efforts have been made to keep the prices of the vehicles affordable, taking the purchasing power of the general public into consideration.

The Prime Minister said that such initiatives are crucial for enhancing the country’s industrial development and technological capabilities. He added that if production continues while maintaining safety and quality, the government will support the sector.

Two sports utility vehicles, a covered van, a truck, an auto-rickshaw, and two motorcycles were brought to the premises of the Prime Minister’s Office for display.

Upon arriving at the office around 10:00 AM, the Prime Minister first inspected the vehicles. Afterward, he test-drove a sports utility vehicle. During the drive, a representative from the manufacturing company briefed him on the vehicle’s various technological features. Later, he also test-drove a covered van.

Following the inspection, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the manufacturer’s Chairman, A Mannan Hossain Khan, and Managing Director, Mir Masud Kabir. The meeting focused on the expansion of the electric vehicle market in the country and its future prospects.

According to the company, their sports utility vehicles can travel over 450 kilometers on a single full charge. It takes five to six hours to fully charge the battery using a standard charging system, while a fast-charging system can complete the charge in about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the electric trucks and covered vans can travel approximately 200 kilometers on a single charge. The batteries of these vehicles generally take about six hours to fully charge on standard systems, and about 40 minutes using fast-charging systems.

The Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon, and Special Assistant Dr. Md. Shakirul Islam Khan, along with other relevant officials, were present at the event.