Mohammad Wahid Hossain, chairman (Senior Secretary) of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC), stressed that uninterrupted electricity supply is the key factor for the success of the EV sector. He made these remarks while addressing a seminar organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) in collaboration with the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA) on 'The Electric Vehicle (EV): Challenges and Prospects in Bangladesh' held at the DCCI Auditorium in Dhaka.
Collaboration and Policy Coordination
Wahid emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve the country's development goals. He suggested establishing a dedicated cell involving all relevant government agencies to ensure better policy coordination. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy and developing a reliable database on the number of electric vehicles currently operating across the country to facilitate effective planning.
Draft EV Policy and Future Plans
Abdun Naser Khan, secretary of the Ministry of Industries, informed that a draft EV policy has already been prepared and has undergone inter-ministerial consultations as well as stakeholder consultations. The primary objective of the proposed policy is to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels while enhancing the country's energy security. He assured that a practical and future-ready EV policy would be finalized based on the recommendations of all stakeholders.
Challenges and Prospects
Dhaka Chamber President Taskeen Ahmed noted that the global transportation sector is undergoing a significant shift driven by sustainable development goals, climate change mitigation, and carbon emission reduction, resulting in the rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) adoption worldwide. He suggested that further initiatives such as building adequate charging infrastructure, ensuring reliable electricity supply, establishing advanced battery management systems, and providing necessary incentives to the private sector are required to develop the EV industry in Bangladesh.
Panel Discussion and Collaboration
The seminar featured a panel discussion with various experts who highlighted the need for expanding charging infrastructure, simplifying import procedures, and providing long-term financing to accelerate EV adoption. They also stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive implementation plan before introducing new EV initiatives. Following the seminar, DCCI and BSREA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote collaboration in energy policy, innovation, and market development.
