The electric vehicles policy that was drafted almost three years ago could not be finalised even after it was tabled for a discussion on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Road Transport and Authority (BRTA) formulated the draft policy in November 2018 to give guidelines on electric vehicle imports, registration, private and commercial operations and related issues amid transformation of fuel-run automobiles globally.
However, the draft remained shelved due to reasons unknown, though a circular was issued on registration of a new kind of vehicle.
The National Board of Revenue has also introduced tax on the electric vehicles as a few vehicles have already been imported in the country.
Sources said a meeting of the Road Transport and Highways Division was held on the draft policy on Wednesday but the meeting could not finalise it due to inconsistencies in the draft.
RTHD Secretary Nazrul Islam chaired it. A RTHD official, however, said the meeting did not find any major problems in the draft but recommended forming a subcommittee to scrutinise it before finalising it.
"Some language or word related changes are required, and it is needed to be prepared in a policy format," said an official.
Meanwhile, RTHD formed a five-member committee with a joint secretary as its convener and asked the committee to report within seven working days.
RTHD Secretary Nazrul Islam said more time was needed to finalise the draft as more meetings would be held and that it would be shared with all ministries and agencies concerned.
Comments will also be welcomed from all stakeholders through the website where the draft will be uploaded before finalising it, he told the FE at his office after the meeting.
Initially, the BRTA was not ready to accept electric vehicles due to a lack of knowledge on horse power.
Due to the uncontrolled increase of easy bike or battery-run rickshaws with sub standard batteries, its need has been felt later on.
According to statistics, around 600,000 battery-operated vehicles plied the country in 2016 which put pressure on electricity consumption.
But the first draft also failed to address necessary areas in line with the global trends as electric vehicles are also at the trial stage globally.
