New import policy drops plan to ban battery-run vehicles

The government has reversed its plan to ban the import of battery-run vehicles including easy-bikes and rickshaws, which will help the rural poor dependent on them for their livelihoods.

The clause regarding the ban was ultimately dropped in the version of the import policy for 2015-2018 that the cabinet committee on economic affairs approved yesterday.

Battery-run vehicles consume a huge amount of electricity and have increased accidents. So, a proposal had been made for banning the import of battery-run vehicles in the draft policy.

But a minister and a member of the Planning Commission objected to the proposed ban as many rural people depend on them for their livelihoods, said a high official of the commerce ministry.

The aim of the import policy is to ensure supply of quality, environment-friendly and healthy commodities.

Another feature of the new policy will be to put more focus on infrastructure development.

For instance, the Padma bridge project will require a huge quantity of boulders and the new policy included land routes for quick imports of boulders from India.

Under the existing policy, boulders can be imported only through the river routes.

Another provision that has been proposed is the import of prime mover, dump truck, dumper, mixer lorry, self-loader and hydraulic crane that are more than five years old. However, the items must have a lifespan of at least 10 years.

The policy also aims to make the import processes more business-friendly and compliant and in line with the pace of globalisation and the free market economy.

It also aims to make the import of capital machineries easier for expansion of modern technology.

Software has been included in the policy as a new import product and can be imported with the clearance of the ministry and with recommendation of the related trade body.

Up to $300,000 worth of goods can be imported without permission from the authorities. Previously, the upper bound was $200,000.

For personal use, a maximum of $7,000 worth of goods can be imported, compared to the existing $5,000.

No-objection certificates from the information ministry will be required from now for importing foreign films. There is no such provision in the existing policy.

PURCHASE COMMITTEE

Meanwhile, the cabinet committee on public purchase approved proposals for procuring energy from two solar power plants of 82 megawatts. The power plants will be built by private sector companies and the government will buy power from them at $0.17 per kilowatt over a 20 year-period.

One of them will be a 50MW plant in Mymensingh, and the other is a 32MW plant in Sunamganj.