Bangladesh Grants Duty-Free Import Benefits for Electric Buses and Trucks

To promote environmentally friendly transportation and accelerate the adoption of clean mobility solutions, Bangladesh has granted duty and tax exemptions on the import of electric buses and trucks. However, importers must satisfy three specific conditions to qualify for the incentive, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Under the new policy, all imported electric buses and trucks must be brand-new vehicles. The import of reconditioned, refurbished, or previously used vehicles will not be permitted under the duty-free facility.

In addition, the vehicles must come with a warranty guaranteeing at least seven years of operation or a minimum driving range of 300,000 kilometers without requiring battery replacement. Importers will also be required to submit appropriate documentation verifying compliance with this requirement.

A third condition requires imported electric buses and trucks to meet the standards prescribed by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) or any other designated competent authority. Alternatively, certification issued by the type approval authority or another authorized regulatory body in the exporting country will also be accepted.

The decision to provide duty-free import facilities for electric buses and trucks was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on May 3. Following the approval, the NBR issued an official notification on May 21 outlining the implementation framework for the initiative.

Industry stakeholders believe the measure could provide significant momentum to the country's environmentally friendly public transportation and freight transport sectors. The policy is expected to encourage greater investment in electric mobility while reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels.

Experts also note that wider adoption of electric commercial vehicles could contribute to lower operating costs for transport operators and help reduce carbon emissions, supporting Bangladesh’s broader environmental and sustainability goals.

As countries around the world increasingly transition toward cleaner transportation systems, the latest incentive is viewed as an important step in modernizing Bangladesh’s transport sector and advancing the country's commitment to greener and more energy-efficient mobility solutions.

DBTech/SA/EK/OR