Used car dealers demand reinstatement of used EV imports

The country’s reconditioned vehicle importers have urged the government to withdraw the ban on imports of reconditioned and used electric vehicles (EVs), saying the restriction could deprive consumers of access to affordable and newer automotive technologies while terming the decision as “discriminatory.”

The demand was raised at a human chain in the capital on Saturday organised by Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) to protest the complete ban on used and reconditioned electric vehicle imports introduced in the new import policy published on August 24, 2026.

BARVIDA said the ban would deprive consumers of access to affordable, modern vehicle technology and undermine the potential for expanding the electric vehicle market in Bangladesh, according to a media release.

The association called for permission to import used EVs based on international standards, vehicle age, technical capability, safety and environmental considerations, rather than imposing an outright prohibition.

According to BARVIDA, countries including the United Kingdom, Georgia, New Zealand, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan allow used EV imports under varying age limits and regulatory conditions. The association said exports of electric vehicles from Japan, China, South Korea, Germany and other European countries are also increasing.

New electric vehicles remain beyond the purchasing capacity of many middle- and lower-middle-income consumers, it said, adding that reconditioned EVs could make modern, energy-efficient vehicles more accessible to ordinary buyers and professionals.

BARVIDA Secretary General Riyaz Rahman said the association would be compelled to pursue a stronger programme if the government did not address the concerns of businesses involved in the reconditioned vehicle sector and consumers.