Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers
Association (BARVIDA ) organized a press conference at the Dhaka Club on Wednesday.
Abdul Haque, the Honorable President of
BARVIDA, delivered the keynote address.
Although the import of used Electric Vehicles (EVs) was
previously permitted, the new import policy published on August 24, 2026,
completely banned the import of used or reconditioned electric cars. BARVIDA
believes this move deprives consumers of the opportunity to access and utilize
motor vehicles featuring modern technology in a familiar format.
The import and export of used and reconditioned electric
vehicles are common practices in many countries worldwide. There is a steady
increase in the export of EVs from Japan—featuring renowned brands like Toyota,
Nissan, Subaru, Lexus, and Honda—as well as from China, South Korea, Germany,
and other European nations. Notable countries that permit the import of used
EVs—subject to strict quality control and specific conditions based on the
local economy, environmental concerns, and purchasing power—include the UK (up
to 10 years), Georgia (6 years), New Zealand (no age limit), Kenya (8 years),
Saudi Arabia (5 years), Ireland (no limit), Pakistan (3 years), Sri Lanka (5
years), and Kazakhstan (permitted in accordance with WTO regulations).
Instead of a total ban, BARVIDA demands the reinstatement
of permission to import used/reconditioned EVs under a regulated and
conditional framework that ensures safety, environmental friendliness, and
adherence to international standards regarding vehicle age and technical
capabilities.
The price of new EVs is beyond the reach of the middle and
lower-middle-income classes. Reconditioned EVs, being comparatively affordable,
would make it possible to bring this technology to professionals who contribute
to the economy and to general consumers alike. The rapid expansion of the EV
market makes it feasible to achieve the government’s target of having electric
vehicles account for 30 percent of the motor vehicle sector by 2030.
BARVIDA’s proposals regarding the regulated import framework:
1. Initially,
permit the import of used/reconditioned EVs that are up to 5 years old.
2. Consider
setting a minimum ‘State of Health’ (SoH) of 70 percent for the battery.
To safeguard consumer interests, mandate certification
from the appropriate authority regarding the battery lifespan of locally
assembled, locally manufactured, and imported new electric vehicles.
3. Make
effective inspection and certification by an authorized agency mandatory prior
to importation.
4. Prohibit
the import of EVs that have suffered flood damage, fire damage, severe
accidents, or structural damage.
5. Formulate
a framework for battery recycling and safe disposal.
6. Continue
providing tax and duty incentives to encourage genuine investment in sectors
such as charging stations, servicing, battery diagnostics, and recycling.
7. Re-evaluate
and rationalize the price-based duty and tax structure for electric
vehicles—introduced in the current budget—through consultations with relevant
stakeholders.
8. Review the
age limit and other conditions after a certain period by assessing the policy’s
outcomes.
Bangladesh is currently at a juncture where
we must simultaneously protect the environment, conserve fuel, save foreign
currency, consider consumer purchasing power, boost investment, create jobs,
build charging infrastructure, and lay the foundation for the emerging EV
industry; EV policies need to be formulated with all these objectives in mind.
In response to a question from journalists,
the Honorable President stated, “We have submitted our appeal to the relevant
ministries and the highest levels of government. We hope the democratic
government will withdraw this ban in the public interest.” Otherwise, we have
decided to undertake programs such as street human-chain protests and the
closure of showrooms to safeguard the livelihoods and investments of traders in
the reconditioned motor vehicle sector, as well as to protect the interests of
the vast consumer base.
Present at the press conference were the Association’s Secretary General Riaz Rahman; former Presidents Abdul Mannan Chowdhury Khasru and Md. Habib Ullah Don; former Secretaries General MahbubulHaque Chowdhury Babar, Mohammad Habibur Rahman, and Mohammad Shahidul Islam; Vice President-1 Md. Saiful Islam Samrat; Vice President-2 Dr. Habibur Rahman Khan; and Vice President-3 Farid Ahmed, alongside current and former leaders and members of the General Council.
