Corruption, mismanagement, bureaucratic complexities and lack of policy support have ruined the possibilities of manufacturing automobiles and spare parts in the country.
Industry sources said, four decades have passed but the opportunities for manufacturing motorcycles, small and medium sized cars in the country are still missing.
Bangladesh is still fully dependent on import of automobiles, engines, spares, chassis and all other equipment, the sources added.
Corruption and lack of innovation have led to the closure of some state-owned technology-based companies, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) sources said.
An institution of the government, the Diesel Plant, which was established with state patronisation to manufacture engines, is facing trouble.
BSEC officials said despite having the potential, Bangladesh is still importing small vehicles like three wheelers, motorcycles and other small and medium vehicles which can be manufactured locally.
He said the local automobile market is still dominated by foreign brands due to corruption and mismanagement at different tiers of the government.
Despite this situation some developments are taking place in the military operated Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) and in the state owned Progati Industries as well as in some private investments.
In the BMTF different types of vehicles are being assembled under joint collaboration, saving precious foreign exchange in the process.
A BMTF source said, "Our assembled automobiles are used by different departments of the country's defence services. We are planning to manufacture engines locally with foreign collaboration."
Progati Industries Corporation Managing Director Engineer Mohammad Ali Chowdhury said things are changing. Private investments are taking place in the automobile assembling and body building sector.
He said if there were state patronisation and policy support regarding mechanical innovation and development, there could be a large number of manufacturers in automobiles sector today.
Engr. Chowdhury said as per population and growing market demand for automobiles and other mechanical products, local innovation and development is almost nil.
He said India earlier ventured into the automobile sector with foreign collaboration and after grasping the technology they now manufacture cars, buses and trucks on their own.
An official in the Ministry of Industries (MoI) said if there were proper patronisation, engines, chassis and motorcycle parts and other small and medium vehicles could be manufactured locally, generating employment opportunities and reducing imports thereby saving foreign currency.
A Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) source said, "We are here to prop up the mechanical industries but due to the government's inadequate policy guidelines we face trouble."
He said the growth of mechanical products is rising and new investments are taking places both in joint ventures and fully local investments.
He said domestic market size for mechanical equipment, parts, engines, spares and others are increasing but still the country depends on imports.
He said corruption, mismanagement, lack of policy support and bureaucratic complexities have ruined the possibilities of mechanical developments and even the good initiatives taken by the government have been destroyed.
He said the Diesel Plant is not functioning now as per the target of its establishment. It is now manufacturing only low-technology irrigation pumps.
He said the BITAC itself is in trouble now as the government is not supporting it enough though it was formed to innovate and help support technological development.
Another MoI source said despite having a good number of engineering universities, colleges, teachers and skilled manpower the country does not have its own mechanical products.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
