What is the benefit and disadvantages of getting a 500 cc motorcycle permit in Bangladesh

 

There has been a fresh debate on whether the cc (engine capacity) limit of motorcycles in the country will be limited to 165 or whether imports of up to 500 cc will be allowed.

Private companies seek the opportunity to add or manufacture and market high cc motorcycles in the country. Against Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). They think that accidents will increase if high cc motorcycles are allowed to be released in Bangladesh market.

The concerned persons say that the policies taken so far in this regard have been decided due to the lobbying and pressure of various parties. But the policy should be right based on the government's own analysis and reasoning. 

Controversy over the CC limit of motorcycles has come to the fore again as the Ministry of Commerce has taken the initiative to revise the import policy. The latest import policy order (2021-2024) implemented through a notification on April 24, 2022, allows import of motorcycle parts up to 500 cc. Companies can manufacture high cc motorcycles in the country by importing parts. You can also leave it in the market.

Although import of high cc motorcycles has not yet started in the country. Earlier, motorcycles of more than 165 cc capacity could not be imported into the country.

A meeting was held in the Ministry of Commerce on November 15 regarding the revision of the import policy. It was decided that parts of motorcycles up to 500 cc capacity can be imported only for manufacturing and export purpose. This means, high cc motorcycles will not be released in the market. 

A delegation of Bangladesh Motorcycle Assemblers and Manufacturers Association (BMAMA) recently met Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi after learning of the decision. They demanded to have the right to import and market parts for manufacturing or assembly of high cc motorcycles.

The companies said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has asked them to review their proposals. Sources in the Ministry of Commerce said that they have not yet taken any final decision in this regard.

When asked, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of India's TVS brand motorcycle manufacturer TVS Auto Bangladesh Ltd. Biplab Kumar Roy told Prothom Alo yesterday that they have not yet received any news from the Ministry of Commerce. 

How the CC debate came about

The concerned people said that till 2017, the cc limit of motorcycles in the country was 155. It was increased to 165 in August that year. There was no limit to the police.

Motorcycle importers are always keen to increase the CC limit. However, police and BRTA opposed it. It was said by the police, if the criminals use high cc motorcycles to commit crimes, it will not be possible to catch them. BRTA brings up the risk of accidents.

The issue of complete lifting of the CC limit came into discussion at the end of 2020. Then IFAD Autos took the initiative to bring Royal Enfield brand motorcycles to Bangladesh. Japanese brand Kawasaki submitted a letter to the Ministry of Commerce on December 5, 2020 requesting to raise the CC limit to 250. It should be noted that Royal Enfield does not have any motorcycle with less cc. 

Efforts of Ifad Autos faced obstacles from the companies that have factories in the country. Their statement was that if the CC limit is suddenly lifted, the country's investment will suffer. Import of high cc motorcycle parts is permitted only subject to domestic production. Accordingly the Import Policy Order was framed. However, earlier Runner Automobiles was given the opportunity to produce 500 cc motorcycles only under export conditions.  

There are now 9 motorcycle factories in Bangladesh. In 2018, the government made a motorcycle industry development policy, where a target of 1 million motorcycles in the country by 2027 has been set. Now 6 lakh motorcycles are sold annually.

Why the CC controversy?

There are two types of motorcycle CC. Companies feel that higher cc motorcycles have more safety features. And mainly foreign brands have a big market in Bangladesh. Foreign brands no longer insist on research to improve the features of low cc motorcycles. No other country has a CC limit. So there is no point in keeping it in Bangladesh.

A letter was given to the Minister of Commerce on January 29 on behalf of the Bangladesh Motorcycle Assemblers and Manufacturers Association. It is said that some companies have taken the initiative to produce high cc motorcycles. Some equipment has arrived. Changing the decision in such a situation will send a negative message about the investment environment.

Mostafizur Rashid, executive director of DHS Motorcycles, the marketer of Benelli brand motorcycles, told Prothom Alo that there is no CC limit on motorcycles in any country. Bangladesh policy is strange. 

When asked whether high CC motorcycles speed up or not, two top officials of two motorcycle manufacturing companies told Prothom Alo that there is a partial relationship between CC and speed. High cc motorcycle has higher speed than low cc motorcycle. But the difference is not much.

Some, including BRTS, argue that with the rate of motorcycle accidents increasing in the country, high CC motorcycles will pose a new hazard. According to data from organizations working on road safety, motorcycle accidents increased by 43 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. 2 thousand 533 people died in motorcycle accidents. The number is 14 percent higher than the previous year.

A letter was given to the Commerce Secretary on November 13 from the BRTA establishment wing of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. It is said that the majority of motorcycle users in Bangladesh are young people. If the speed limit is increased, young users will exceed the speed limit and travel on the roads with motorcycles. As a result, there is a danger of increasing accidents along with chaos.

Not only the accident, but also the situation of stockpiling foreign currency. Some say that foreign exchange reserves in the country are decreasing. Imports of various products are regulated. Even the import of daily commodities has been disrupted by the dollar crisis. At such a time there is no need to give opportunity to import more expensive motorcycles of high CC.

When asked, Director of Road Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) and transport expert Prof. Samchul Haque told Prothom Alo that bus services are insufficient in the country, so motorcycles are needed for transportation - this is presented as an argument. There is no need for high-cc, high-speed motorcycles.

Roads in Bangladesh are not ready for the storm of speed. Speeding motorcycles in chaos will only increase the risk.

Samchul Haque also said that the government has a responsibility towards the society. Whatever anyone says, the government should take a decision wisely.

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