Sector insiders also point to another concern. The police currently use motorcycles up to 165 cc. If high-powered motorcycles become more common, he believes it could increase the risk to maintaining law and order.
According to Bangladesh Motorcycle Assemblers and Manufacturers Association (BMAMA), around 10 motorcycle manufacturing plants have been set up in Bangladesh since 2018. Motorcycles from famous Japanese and Indian brands are now produced locally. The total investment in these factories is about 80 billion taka.
The government introduced the Motorcycle Industry Development Policy in 2018. Companies made their investments based on that policy. However, motorcycle-related regulations have been changed repeatedly since then. Local partners of foreign investors believe that such policy changes create uncertainty about Bangladesh as an investment destination.
Bijoy Kumar Mandal, chief executive officer of HMCL Niloy Bangladesh Ltd, which makes Hero motorcycles in Bangladesh, told Prothom Alo that motorcycle policies are changed very often. Without policy continuity, foreign investment is discouraged.
He said that if import of fully assembled motorcycles is allowed, his company can also bring in new brands of high-powered motorcycles. Still, he does not support sudden policy changes.