Anisul Islam Noor :
The leaders of Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) on Sunday demanded import-friendly policy in respect of reconditioned hybrid cars.
All the famous car-manufacturing countries have been making hybrid cars, as it has facility of lower carbon emission and free from refuelling hazard, they said.
The demands came up from a discussion titled “Saving of fossil fuel and natural gas, protection air pollution and need of hybrid cars” held at International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Md Tajul Islam, MP, was present there as the chief guest. Chairman of Mechanical Engineering Department of BUET Professor Dr Md. Zahurul Haq presented the key note paper on the title. Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamol Dutta moderated the function. BARVIDA President Abdul Hamid Sharif, Director of BRTA Nurul Islam, former BARVIDA President Habibullah Don, Founder President of the organization Abdul Haq, DC of DMP North (Traffic) Probir Kumar Roy, General Secretary of Press Club Kamrul Islam Chowdhury and General Secretary of Sarak Paribahan Samity Khandaker Enayel Ullah, among others, spoke at the function.
Professor Zahurul Haq said in the key note that hybrid vehicle refers to internal combustion engine plus electric motors, which run on batteries, have zero tailpipe emissions.
All famous car manufacturing companies are making hybrid cars to need the demand of carbon emission free transport. To save fossil fuel and natural gas, hybrid car can play a important role in Bangladesh, he said.
Japan is ready to set up a factory for helping manufacture the batteries used for hybrid cars, which will have advantage to run reconditioned hybrid cars here, Professor Zahurul Haq also said. Reconditioned Japanese motor vehicles were displayed at ‘BARVIDA Car Expo 2016’ with an aim to introduce environment friendly vehicles. The three-day expo organised by Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), which started on Friday at Dhaka’s International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), ended on Sunday. There were 40 stalls in the exposition. Companies of ancillary products like insurance, tyres, leasing, battery, lubricant, CNG conversion, car security management and car modification also participated in the expo.
The businesses taking part in the expo provided information to visitors on climate-friendly technology that consumed less fuel. State bodies like the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also interacted with visitors, supplying them with necessary information.
BARVIDA President Md Abdul Hamid Sharif sought assistance in matters of duty and policy to make hybrid automobiles more import-friendly.
“Hybrid automobiles consume 60 percent less fuel than regular cars. Thirty-seven percent of the automobiles manufactured in Japan are hybrids,” he said.
“Sri Lanka is allowing a 50 percent waiver on duty for hybrid cars. It is time for Bangladesh to become more import-friendly in respect of reconditioned hybrid vehicles.”
Importers could sell cars at a lesser price if the rent paid for warehouses at Mongla Port is reduced, said former BARVIDA Chief Habib Ullah Don.
