Lift Ban on Reconditioned EV Imports

Adopting electric vehicle (EV) engineering standards, battery diagnostics, and sustainable energy infrastructure requires lifting import bans on reconditioned electric cars.

The Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) raised this demand during a human chain and press briefing in front of Ananda Cinema Hall at Nayapaltan in Dhaka on Saturday, September 12. Trade leaders urged policymakers to allow conditional imports for national economic and consumer interests rather than serving vested quarters.

Delivering the presidential address, BARVIDA President Abdul Haque said, "The new import policy published on August 24 completely banned used and reconditioned EV imports. This restriction limits affordable access to modern, eco-friendly vehicles for middle-class consumers." He noted that brand-new EVs remain prohibitively expensive for general buyers, while reconditioned alternatives lower commuting costs and accelerate EV adoption.

BARVIDA proposed technical benchmarks aligned with global practices, suggesting import clearance for EVs up to five years old with a verified minimum battery State of Health (SOH) of 70 percent. The association advocated mandatory pre-shipment inspection and certification by authorized testing agencies, alongside strict bans on flood-affected, fire-damaged, or structurally compromised units.

Industry leaders emphasized that regulated reconditioned EV imports will drive investments in local charging stations, maintenance workshops, battery diagnostics, and recycling plants, while training specialized technicians. Lowering fossil fuel dependence will curb greenhouse emissions and preserve foreign currency reserves, aligning with the national roadmap to achieve 30 percent EV adoption by 2030. BARVIDA recommended establishing a comprehensive 'Battery Recycling and Safe Disposal Framework' and maintaining fiscal incentives across charging and battery recycling sectors.

Former President Habibullah Dawn said, "The import policy allows brand-new electric cars but restricts reconditioned units, creating market disparity. Importers seek a level playing field where consumers decide whether to purchase new or reconditioned EVs." He added, "We want to contribute to the trillion-dollar economic vision by generating higher revenues. We urge the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Commerce Minister to withdraw this restriction."

Former BARVIDA President Abdul Mannan Chowdhury Khasru remarked, "We are not opposing government objectives. The industry needs realistic, balanced, and forward-looking regulations. A single ban can stall a market, but precise policies build an entire ecosystem."

Secretary General Reiazur Rahman urged regulatory authorities to amend the import order and restore conditional reconditioned EV clearances. Former General Secretaries Shahidul Islam and Habibur Rahman, Senior Vice President Saiful Islam, and other trade executives attended the demonstration.
 //DBTech/OC/SE/EIC//