Economy
Salman F Rahman Inaugurates BYD’s First Showroom, Supports Govt’s EV Vision
Salman F Rahman, the Private Industries and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, expressed the government’s ambition to achieve a 30% adoption rate of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country by 2030 and realize the Smart Bangladesh vision by 2041. During the inauguration of BYD’s first showroom in Bangladesh, he welcomed the move, emphasizing the importance of making EVs accessible to enable people to make informed choices.
Global EV giant BYD officially launched its first showroom in Bangladesh, facilitating easier access for environmentally conscious individuals to experience electric vehicles and contribute to sustainable living.
The Bangladesh government envisions phasing out traditional fossil fuel-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles to address carbon emissions. However, the adoption of electric vehicles is still in its early stages due to a lack of EV availability in the domestic market.
The opening of BYD’s showroom in the domestic market is a significant step that is expected to boost the adoption of EVs in the country.
CG Runner BD Ltd has taken the initiative to introduce the global EV giant BYD to Bangladesh. The showroom, located in the Tejgaon industrial area in Dhaka, covers 8,400 square feet and can accommodate up to 5 cars at a time.
Initially, the flagship model, BYD Seal (sedan), will be available for sale at the showroom, featuring two variants – Premium Variant with an extended mileage of 570 km (Rear Drive) and Performance Variant with a mileage of 520 km AWD (All-Wheel Drive).
The BYD SEAL showcases a distinctive “Ocean Aesthetics” design, incorporating advanced technologies such as BYD’s e-platform 3.0, innovative CTB (Cell-to-Body) technology, Blade Battery, and iTAC (intelligent Torture Adaptation Control). The model boasts a slanted roofline, panoramic glass roof, short rear deck, waterdrop mirrors, wave waistline, and LED lights.
Customers can experience the cars in the showroom, which will also house two charging stations (AC and DC) for the convenience of BYD car owners.
CG Runner BD LTD plans to open more showrooms and service centers in the near future to expedite the adoption of EVs in Bangladesh.
The newest tranche of US funding will assist Bangladesh towards a more inclusive, equitable and democratic course for its people, the US Embassy in Dhaka said today (16 September).
According to the embassy, from 2021-2026, USAID has committed nearly $1 billion to help improve the lives of the Bangladeshi people.
During the US delegation’s visit yesterday (15 September), USAID signed a development agreement worth over $200 million with the interim government to support Bangladesh in advancing development, strengthening governance, expanding trade, and creating greater opportunities for the Bangladeshis to build a brighter and more prosperous future.
The officials discussed ways to support inclusive economic opportunities for the people of Bangladesh, ensure financial stability, and strengthen democratic governance.
The US interagency delegation held meetings with key advisers for the Bangladesh interim government, including Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, and Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday.
The US delegation included Department of Treasury Assistant Secretary Brent Neiman, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Änjali Kaur, and Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch.
Bangladeshi landowners are set to regain around 200 acres of land that had shifted into Indian territory due to the erosion of the Padma River along the Daulatpur border in Kushtia. This decision followed a joint agreement reached during a meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday.
The land in question, situated in the Challishpara area of Ramkrishnapur union, became disputed due to the shifting course of the Padma River and natural disasters, which disrupted boundary markers over a three-kilometer stretch. The issue was first identified in a survey earlier this year.
Lieutenant Colonel M Mahbub Murshed Rahman, commander of BGB’s 47th Battalion, confirmed the decision to resurvey the area and return the land to its rightful owners. A survey on February 10 revealed that approximately 200 acres of Bangladeshi land had ended up inside Indian territory, while 40 acres of Indian land were found in Bangladesh.
Both countries plan to officially correct the boundaries in October, following the resurvey. Sunday’s meeting, held at the Jamalpur Border Outpost, also addressed broader issues like preventing border killings and tackling drug trafficking.
Lt Col Rahman stressed that no one will be allowed to use the disputed land until the resurvey is complete. He also expressed Bangladesh’s strong opposition to recent border killings, urging the BSF to prevent the detention of innocent citizens and curb illegal cross-border activities, especially ahead of Durga Puja.
The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, commemorating the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), is being observed across Bangladesh today with profound religious reverence. The observance was confirmed during the National Moon Sighting Committee’s meeting on September 4, held at the Islamic Foundation’s Conference Room in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Md Abdul Hamid Jamaddar, as announced in a press release.
The committee confirmed that the moon of Rabiul Awal 1446 Hijri was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on September 4, marking the beginning of the holy month of Rabiul Awal from September 5 (Thursday).
On this day in 570, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, bringing divine blessings and messages of peace to humanity. He passed away on the same date, 12th Rabiul Awal, of the Hijri calendar.
In honor of the occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the Chief Adviser to the interim government, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, issued separate messages, extending greetings to the people of Bangladesh and Muslims worldwide.
To mark the day, Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar are airing special programmes, while various national newspapers have published supplements underscoring the significance of the event. The day is also observed as a public holiday throughout the country.
