Speakers at a workshop on Tuesday called for the formulation of a National E-Mobility Implementation Framework with clear institutional ownership and coordinated action across policy, financing, industry and infrastructure development to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Bangladesh.
They stressed the need to strengthen policy and regulatory governance, introduce consumer-focused incentives and financing mechanisms, promote local manufacturing and skills development, and expand charging and grid infrastructure to create an enabling environment for large-scale EV deployment.
The speakers noted that Bangladesh's rapid urbanisation and population growth have intensified transportation challenges, making the transition to sustainable and electric mobility increasingly important for reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and curbing air pollution.
They pointed out that Dhaka's road network operates at four to five times its designed capacity, leading to severe traffic congestion, accidents and environmental pollution, while disproportionately affecting women, children, older persons and people with disabilities.
Besides, the transport sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, exceeding 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually (2020), according to the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) and Asian Transport Outlook (ATO). Air pollution is also the country's second leading cause of death and disability, they added.
Director (Operation) of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Meer Ahemed Tariqul Omar attended the seminar as the chief guest, while Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dhaka Jannis Hussain was present as special guest.
Stakeholders agreed that although Bangladesh has made notable progress in the e-mobility sector, stronger policy support, increased private-sector investment and greater cross-sector collaboration will be essential to achieving the country's sustainable mobility goals and expanding EV deployment nationwide.
The workshop featured the presentation of the "EV Demand Forecasting and Power Sector Readiness Study" and an interactive simulation dashboard developed under the Trans2SMo project.
According to the study, Bangladesh's power system has the potential to accommodate the additional electricity demand arising from EV adoption, including under a scenario of 30 per cent EV penetration by 2030, provided appropriate planning and grid management measures are put in place.
Azizjst@yahoo.com