Bangladesh Economic & Infrastructure Development - Updates & Discussions

[Arthur]

The story of the Metre Gauge EMD (GMDL) B12 Canadian Locomotives in Bangladesh Railways (2000 class) that refuse to die and soldier on. Running since 1953. No longer in passenger service but in daily Container rake duty nowadays. these will complete seventy years of service in 2023. Spectacular considering the trackage conditions in Bangladesh.

It'd have been fitting to give the GMDL factory in Ontario, Canada some award from BR for the longevity of their product, but Caterpillar closed the factory in 2012.

জ্বলে পুড়ে ছারখার - তবু মাথা নোয়াবার নয়।

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These are images with Fresh factory paintjob in 1953....

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Being shipped out to East Pakistan
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On trial run around factory track. These locos were equipped with Three-axle C type bogies.
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Saw it running once. They are slow as hell.

Age has some downsides. Being elderly is not fun, I must say.

 

[Bilal9]

Saw it running once. They are slow as hell.

Age has some downsides. Being elderly is not fun, I must say.

Tobuo to choltesey. Freight locos are rather slow everywhere in the world - pulling torque is maximized instead of top end speed. Unless you are talking about Express US container freight with double stack consists to/from Los Angeles to points East.

Where in the world do we see seventy year old locos earning their keep?

The new Hyundai ROTEM Meter Gauge GT38 locos will take over container duty from these old GMDL B12's once enough get delivered.

The new US Made Progress Rail GT42's will take over Broad Gauge container duties transferred to/from Indian rakes via Bhanga, Padma Bridge, Narail and Jessore/Benapole.

They are ordering more freight locos of course.

 

[Arthur]

Tobuo to choltesey. Freight locos are rather slow everywhere in the world. Unless you are talking about Express US container freight with double stack consists to/from Los Angeles to points East.

Where in the world do we see seventy year old locos earning their keep?

The new Hyundai ROTEM Meter Gauge GT38 locos will take over container duty from these old GMDL B12's once enough get delivered.

The new US Made Progress Rail GT42's will take over Broad Gauge container duties transferred to/from Indian rakes via Bhanga, Padma Bridge, Narail and Jessore/Benapole.

They are ordering more freight locos of course.

Also shows the capacity Railway buit up to keep these locos going. Without enough supply of perishable spares these locos would had to go.

 

[Bilal9]

Also shows the capacity Railway buit up to keep these locos going. Without enough supply of perishable spares these locos would had to go.

If this was the US, they would have revamped the driveline and interior engines/transmissions to new tech like Caterpillar-made generator units. And kept the suspension and wheels, maybe modernize and put them through BMRE. Save tons of money by getting an essentially new modern engine for minimal price.

Most new locos in the US nowadays are re-vamped with new Caterpillar Gensets. I'd say this ToT is easy to implement, but we're talking Bangladesh here. These Railway Idiots will never do anything like this, they are looking after importing big ticket items to pocket big bribes.

One large EMD engine is swapped with three of these generators supplying current to AC/DC motors driving the wheels. These Caterpillar Gensets are modular (fits three to a loco usually) and once speed is achieved underway, one (or even two) of the three Gensets can be turned off to conserve fuel and wear/tear. These Caterpillar Gensets are not really very different from what most Garment factories in Bangladesh use for captive power generation.

Below the engine (genset) platform, its the same suspension and frame structure from the 1950s and 60s.

These new Genset engines are way quieter, lighter and also more economical to run fuel-cost wise because of electronic fuel injection and new engine management technology. Bangladesh has such a large fleet of old locos which could be revamped this way and we could save such a load of cash this way.

Look at the three exhausts for the three gensets mounted on these new locos

 

[Bilal9]

Padma Bridge Rail link status (elevated rail to Padma Bridge then on to Jessore)

Dhaka Metro Rail Project Status (Stations are being spruced up)

Purbachal Expressway update

 

[Bilal9]

How Bangladesh handled Cyclone Sitrang​

Weather forecasts and timely evacuation of people and cattle have lowered losses

Focus Bangla
Ali Asif Shawon

October 25, 2022 10:34 AM

More than 18 deaths have been reported from different parts of Bangladesh since Monday night as the powerful Cyclone Sitrang completed its landfall and weakened to a tropical depression over Bangladesh early Tuesday.

Officials working closely to tackle the adverse impacts of the cyclone said that having taken up all necessary preparations, like appropriate weather forecasting and timely evacuation of people and domestic animals of the coastal regions, minimized the damages.

The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and other units of the government, such as the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, police, local administration, elected representatives, ruling party workers and general people worked in a coordinated manner from Monday morning to monitor and save the livelihoods from this strong cyclone.

Due to the cyclone, rain and thundershowers swept over the other parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, causing waterlogging, traffic congestion, and falling of trees since Tuesday morning due to the effects of Cyclone Strang.

Damages and compensations​

At a press conference on Tuesday, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said the Sitrang did not turn into a severe cyclone and crossed the coastal area very quickly.

Stating that the cyclone has swept over Bhola, Noakhali and Chittagong, the state minister said that 10,000 houses and crops of 6,000 hectares of 419 unions had been damaged. Another 1,000 fish enclosures were destroyed.

Dhaka Tribune

Responding to a question, he said that the government will give corrugated steel sheets to repair the damaged house, and the affected fisherman will get interest-free loans.

The state minister gave information about nine deaths based on primary information from different parts of the country.

He said that Tk25,000 would be given to the deceased families as compensation. Two families of Gopalganj have already received the assistance.
He said corrugated steel sheets and cash would be given from today for repairing the damaged houses.

Enamur added it would take 15 days to know about the actual extent of the damages.

Around 1 million people took shelter in 6,925 shelters during the cyclone. They all left the shelters after the storm passed. Due to the cyclone, flooding has occurred in some places, but now it is normal, he said.

Electricity connections will be okay​

Cyclone Sitrang started crossing the coast near Bhola on Monday evening with heavy rains and tidal waves. At that time, gusts caused trees to fall and many districts in the south were left without power.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said in an emergency press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon that around 2,000 electric poles of various distribution companies were damaged by the storm.

“We have about 4.80 crore subscribers. Now about 8 million are without power. In some areas, power poles were uprooted and fallen trees damaged the lines. Problems were witnessed in many places, so the power supply was completely shut down to avoid any unwanted situation,” he said.

Focus Bangla
Nasrul said that transmission and distribution lines were affected, adding: “It will be possible to provide electricity to about 70% of subscribers by Tuesday evening and 100% by tomorrow noon.”

Residents of those areas are suffering due to a long time of no electricity. Emergency services, including hospital services, are being disrupted. Mobile phone and internet communication were also cut off.

Fire Service officials said that in the 24 hours till 8am on Tuesday, they received information about 287 trees falling on different roads across the country.

Of those, 56 trees were uprooted on different roads in Dhaka division. In three cases, trees fell on houses.

Measures taken before cyclone​

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally monitored developments centring Cyclone Sitrang around the clock and instructed government officials to take steps to minimize the loss of lives and properties.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, gave necessary instructions to the central unit leaders regarding this matter.

“Prime minister was communicating with the local leaders, including MPs and other public representatives, of her party to get the information quickly and gave necessary directives,” one of her personal aides told Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday.

A monitoring cell, PM's Disaster Management Coordination and Relief Monitoring Cell, had opened at the PMO that worked for 24 hours a day as per the instruction of the premier.

Focus Bangla

According to PMO data, 2,19,690 people took shelter in 7,490 cyclone shelters and 112 Mujib Killa of 60 upazilas of 19 districts.

A total of Tk95,00,000 in cash, 475 tons of rice and 19,000 dry food packets were distributed among them immediately.

In addition, 45,000 domestic cattle took shelter in the above-mentioned places amid the cyclone.

Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Authority suspended all passenger and cargo vessels and the ferry terminals on Monday before the cyclone, and reopened on Tuesday morning.

Three airports, including two international and one domestic, were closed due to the heavy rainfall on Monday. Flight operations resumed on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) deployed around 1,200 volunteers in the coastal areas to protect the people from the cyclone.

The Navy, and the Coast Guard have worked restlessly in the coastal areas to bring people to the nearby cyclone shelters and the Air Force helicopter on Tuesday monitored the affected areas by two helicopters.

400,000 people were safe in Ashrayan's houses​

Nearly 400,000 people of 19 coastal districts did not leave their houses for the nearby cyclone centre this time, as they were protected in their own places, which they got as a gift from the Prime Minister's initiative Ashrayan-2 project.

According to the latest information from the PMO, some 219,690 people and 45,442 cattle were protected in Ashrayan's house amid the cyclone.

 

[Arthur]

If this was the US, they would have revamped the driveline and interior engines/transmissions to new tech like Caterpillar-made generator units. And kept the suspension and wheels, maybe modernize and put them through BMRE. Save tons of money by getting an essentially new modern engine for minimal price.

Most new locos in the US nowadays are re-vamped with new Caterpillar Gensets. I'd say this ToT is easy to implement, but we're talking Bangladesh here. These Railway Idiots will never do anything like this, they are looking after importing big ticket items to pocket big bribes.

One large EMD engine is swapped with three of these generators supplying current to AC/DC motors driving the wheels. These Caterpillar Gensets are modular (fits three to a loco usually) and once speed is achieved underway, one (or even two) of the three Gensets can be turned off to conserve fuel and wear/tear. These Caterpillar Gensets are not really very different from what most Garment factories in Bangladesh use for captive power generation.

Below the engine (genset) platform, its the same suspension and frame structure from the 1950s and 60s.

These new Genset engines are way quieter, lighter and also more economical to run fuel-cost wise because of electronic fuel injection and new engine management technology. Bangladesh has such a large fleet of old locos which could be revamped this way and we could save such a load of cash this way.

View attachment 889088

Look at the three exhausts for the three gensets mounted on these new locos
View attachment 889089

I think that's what they did with this seriously damaged engine.

But this won't be a regular practice with our railway. Thanks to corrupt two pieces.10% sure has some "desired" effect.

 

[Bilal9]

I think that's what they did with this seriously damaged engine.

But this won't be a regular practice with our railway. Thanks to corrupt two pieces.10% sure has some "desired" effect.

I know that revamping locomotives can be done locally.

But these top level Railways idiots won't do this, to supply resources and workers to Parbatipur Loco workshop. There is nothing in it for their own pockets which they can do by importing new locos. At least they can do this for propaganda which is helpful for AL. But they won't even do that....

Parbatipur locomotive workshop overhauls burnt rail engine

NILPHAMARI, Mar 16: Parbatipur locomotive workshop of Bangladesh Railway has been able to achieve a success in a major repairing and overhauling of a burnt railway engine bearing No. 2933 of meter gauge railway track. This is the first of its kind of repairing and overhauling in the workshop.The...

today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Passenger coaches are repaired at Saidpur which has a large carriage shop. Which is a different facility.

 

[Bilal9]

Internet users in Bangladesh pass 100 million​

Melanie Mingas

The number of internet users in Bangladesh exceeded 100 million for the first time to reach 103.253 million users, according to newly released data from the country’s regulator, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).​

Of the 103 million people accessing services in March, 95.16 million did so via the web or mobile phone network.
In a country of 161.4 million people, the growth has been relatively sharp.

Comparing year on year figures, in March 2019, total subscribers stood at 93.102 million, split between mobile internet (87.310 million), WiMAX (0.061 million) and ISP + PTSN (5.731 million). Today, of 103.253 million subscribers, 95.168 million access services through mobile – an increase of 7.8 million users year on year – compared to WiMAX (0.2 million) and ISP + PSTN (8.084 million).

On a month to month basis, in February total subscribers in Bangladesh stood at 99.984 million, with 94.236 using mobile internet.

As of Q1, Bangladesh was trailed in user numbers by Mexico (88 million internet users and 128 million citizens), the Philippines (79 million internet users and 109 million citizens) and Thailand (57 million internet users and 69 million citizens).

BTRC chairman Chairman Jahurul Haque, attributed the milestone to higher quality services and essential nature of the internet in modern Bangladesh society.

In terms of global internet user distribution, as of Q1 this year Asia accounted for 50.3% of all internet users, followed by Europe at 15.9% and Africa at 11.5%. However, when it comes to penetration, North America leads at 94.6%, followed by Europe at 87.2%.

As of this year, the number of people around the world using the internet had grown by 7% to reach 4.54 billion compared to January 2019, after 298 million new users were registered in the last 12 months.

When it comes to global mobile phone use, 5.19 billion people now use a handset, with numbers up 2.4% over the last year.

 

[Bilal9]

 

[Bilal9]

 

[Bilal9]

Journey and Operation of ACI Motors Limited​

REPORT
September 16, 2022




ACI Limited is one of Bangladesh’s top conglomerates. It has various concerns like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical, agri-business, FMCG, machinery, and retail chains under it. However, among these, ACI Motors is one of the most successful concerns of the group. ACI Motors has become a leading Agro Machinery & Motors brands in Bangladesh with an annual turnover of over BDT 2500 Crores. Operating in different sectors of the country, ACI Motors has introduced various famous machinery brands in Bangladesh.

Overview​

In 1968, a British multinational Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) branch was established in the then East Pakistan. After independence, ICI Bangladesh Manufacturers Limited was established as a public limited company on 24 January 1973, Which was listed on Dhaka Stock Exchange on 28 December 1976. Later on,5 May 1992, ICI plc transferred the majority shareholding (70%) of the company to Bangladeshi shareholders, and the name of the company was changed to Advanced Chemical Industries Limited, which is now popularly known as ACI Limited. Several other concerns under the ACI Limited umbrella include Pharmaceutical, Electrical, Agri Business, Healthcare, FMCG, Motors, Biotech, Chemicals, and Retail Chains.

ACI Motors Limited primarily operates in categories such as agricultural, automobiles, infrastructure development machinery, musical instruments, generators, and lubricants with an annual turnover of over BDT 2500 Crores.

Along with the economic growth of Bangladesh, the use of heavy equipment and motor vehicles in the agricultural sector is constantly increasing. Even though crop production in Bangladesh is growing continually, most farmers still work manually, from planting the seeds to harvesting and threshing the rice. Currently, the market size of agriculture machinery in Bangladesh is BDT 3000 core, but the potential market size of this market is BDT 30,000 core. By giving importance to this issue, the journey of ACI Motors started in 2007 by Subrata Ranjan Das. Subrata Ranjan Das completed his BSc in Agricultural Engineering from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 1993. At the start of his career, he worked as a Regional Sector Specialist of BRAC till 1999. That year in October, he joined ACI Limited’s Crop Care Division as a Marketing Officer. After successfully serving in various positions there for a long time, in 2007, the ACI launched its Motors Division on his initiative. Subrata Ranjan Das is currently serving as the Executive Director of ACI Motors Limited. Under his supervision, the company management team has more than 1500 employees aged from 27 to 29.

Operation​

ACI Motors Limited mainly operates in different segments like Agricultural Machinery, Automobiles, Infrastructure Development Machinery, Musical Instruments, Generators, and Lubricants.

Agriculture Machinery​

In 2007, ACI Motors introduced the Indian brand Sonalika Tractor in the agricultural machinery segment in Bangladesh. This tractor is quite popular in India as well as in the international market. Even now, this tractor is being exported to more than 130 countries around the world. ACI Motors imported this tractor to Bangladesh, and gradually it became quite popular in the country. And today, Sonalika occupies more than 35% of the tractor market in Bangladesh.

Sonalika tractor was imported to Bangladesh by ACI Motors with a market share of more than 35%.

But, since the price of the tractor is usually between 11 to 16 lakh taka, most of the farmers in Bangladesh couldn’t buy a tractor at such a price. Keeping this in mind, the following year, in 2008, ACI Motors introduced its second product, the ACI Power Tiller. The power tiller basically offers almost the same benefits as the tractor, and since the price range is between 1.5 and 2.5 lakh taka, power tillers are affordable for many farmers. ACI Motors basically manufactured their power tillers in China and brought them to Bangladesh. Currently, 1/3rd of Bangladesh’s total cultivation is done using Sonalika tractors and ACI power tillers. Along with tractors and power tillers, in 2009, the company added diesel engines to its portfolio, which are being used in remote areas of the country for shallow machines and boat engines.

Besides these, in 2010, ACI Motors introduced the first combine harvester in the Bangladeshi market as advanced agricultural machinery. Since then, the company has started various training and awareness programs on mechanized harvesting among farmers in Bangladesh. Note that, the Ha0r area is one of the top rice producers in the northern region of the country, meeting more than 60 percent of Bangladesh’s rice demand.

Sonalika Tractor

Combine Harvester

However, during the rainy season, when the area is often flooded, it severely damages the crops. Even in the Covid epidemic period, there was a shortage of manpower. ACI Motors distributed more than 300 harvesters to farmers in the Haor region of the country to harvest crops before the full onset of the monsoon season when there was a shortage of manpower. In terms of planting seedlings, Bangladeshi farmers have been planting seedlings by hand for a long time ago. But for planting seedlings by hand, seeds are first sown in the soil, and seedlings are produced by pulling them by hand and then planting them in the field. In this process, the roots of the seedlings are damaged during manual lifting of the seedlings from the soil, which is one of the major reasons for yield reduction. Again, hand planting may damage the seedlings by sudden rains or floods without firmly establishing them in the soil. To solve this problem, in 2011, ACI Motors introduced the “Rice Transplanter” machine in the Bangladeshi market. With the help of a rice planter, seedlings can be planted in a fully automatic manner at a low cost and time. According to ACI Motors Executive Director Subrata Ranjan Das, rice transplanter reduces the cost of rice planting by up to 50 % and increases rice yield by 10 %, and helps reduce 80 percent of the farmer’s labor. In the same year, the company introduced its ACI Water Pump. In the country, several other companies have water pumps.

However, the ACI Motors water pump is very popular among consumers because of its high quality. Currently, ACI Water Pump is used by more than 10 lakhs households in Bangladesh. In 2016, ACI Motors was able to set the benchmark of providing on-spot service within 6 hours for After Sales Service in Bangladesh’s Agriculture Machinery Industry. ACI Motors currently has an after-sales service team of more than 450 service engineers who reach the customer’s doorstep within a maximum of 6 hours to resolve all machine issues. To ensure customer satisfaction, the company constantly monitors the service engineers’ performance. Also, In 2019, the company introduced YANMAR Harvester and Transplanter in collaboration with Japanese brand YANMAR, which has already become quite popular in Bangladesh. Yanmar, one of Japan’s leading agricultural machinery, diesel engine, and heavy machinery manufacturers.

ACI Water Pump is being used by over 10 lac families in Bangladesh.

Infrastructure Development Machineries​

In 2014, ACI Motors joined the Earth Moving Industry of Bangladesh, And the world’s leading full-line construction equipment manufacturer, “CASE Construction Equipment,” launched equipment like Backhoe Loader, Soil compactors, and Tandem rollers in the Bangladesh market. In 2017, ACI Motors also added products from the leading Chinese brand “LOVOL Construction Equipment” to its Wheel Loader and Mini Excavator segments. Also, in 2018 ACI Motors achieved a new milestone by introducing one of the world’s most popular Japanese brands, “KOBELCO,” in their High-end Excavator segment. Kobelco’s heavy construction equipment is also being used in megaprojects like Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Metrorail, and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal.

Automobiles​

In 2016, ACI Motors became the official and sole distributor of YAMAHA Motorcycles, one of the world’s most popular Japanese motorcycle manufacturing companies in Bangladesh. Yamaha is one of the top motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Apart from motorbikes, the company also manufactures various types of motor vehicles, including musical instruments. In 2019, ACI Motors also got the license to manufacture Yamaha motorcycles in Bangladesh as the sole worldwide distributor.

ACI Motors also received the permission to manufacture Yamaha motorcycles in Bangladesh as the sole global distributor in 2019.

ACI Motors’ sales and marketing efforts have made Yamaha one of the most popular motorcycle brands among Bangladeshi youth in just a few years and are currently one of the highest-selling bike brands in the country. Yamaha R15 in the country’s sports bike category, and Yamaha FZ series bikes in the sports commuter bike category are the most popular bikes in Bangladesh. The Yamaha biker community in Bangladesh is one of the largest biker communities in the country. Currently, Yamaha has more than 100 servicing centers across the country. Following the success of Yamaha motorbikes in the country, in 2020, the Dutch government’s private sector investment institution FMO, Singapore-based SDI Pte Ltd., invested TK 126 Core with ACI-Motors in a joint venture with it. Besides, in 2018, ACI Motors started distributing Foton’s medium and heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks, vans, and pickup buses in Bangladesh with an agreement with Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Foton Motor Group. Foton, one of the world’s top-selling companies in the commercial vehicle segment, sees Bangladesh as a lucrative market and plans to set up its assembling facility in the country in the future. Foton’s light commercial vehicles have already established a strong presence in the domestic market, and this segment is constantly expanding.

Foton ambulance delivery ceremony.

Others​

Most of the musical instruments available in Bangladesh are imported from abroad by local traders and sold in the local market. Since 2019, ACI Motors has become the Bangladeshi distributor of the world-famous brand Yamaha Music. Besides, ACI Motors is also importing Yamaha, Yorpower, and Mimoinsa brand generators. Apart from this, in 2021, ACI Motors started the distribution of Italy’s top lubricant brand ENI in Bangladesh.

One of the reasons behind the current success of ACI Motors is the company’s young and dedicated workforce. Currently, the company has more than 1500 employees. With a valuation of around Tk 2500 core, ACI Motors has now become one of the leading machinery and motor brands in Bangladesh. In the financial year 2021-22, the total revenue of the company exceeded Tk 2300 core.

The company’s overall revenue in the fiscal year 2021–2022 exceeded BDT 2300 core.

Although the potential size of Bangladesh’s agriculture machinery market is Tk 30,000 core, actually only Tk 3000 core of machinery is being used. One of the reasons for this is the increase in the price of imported machinery. Keeping this in mind, ACI Motors is currently trying to manufacture world-class Yanmar brand machinery in the country through an agreement with the Japanese brand Yanmar.

Besides, ACI Motors has several achievements, this includes the First International Impact Investment Summit Award from Build Bangladesh in 2016, and the first prize as a supplier of all types of machinery required for agricultural mechanization at the National Agricultural Machinery Fair in 2018 and 19 consecutively. Besides, on March 26, 2018, ACI Motors Limited was able to get a name in the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the world’s most oversized motorcycle logo. In 2021, ACI-Motors won the ‘Best Customer Care’ award from Foton Motor Group. Also, in 2022, ACI-Motors won the “Foton Global Excellent Brand Communication” and “Foton Global Service System Construction Merit” award.

 

[mb444]

Journey and Operation of ACI Motors Limited​

REPORT
September 16, 2022




ACI Limited is one of Bangladesh’s top conglomerates. It has various concerns like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical, agri-business, FMCG, machinery, and retail chains under it. However, among these, ACI Motors is one of the most successful concerns of the group. ACI Motors has become a leading Agro Machinery & Motors brands in Bangladesh with an annual turnover of over BDT 2500 Crores. Operating in different sectors of the country, ACI Motors has introduced various famous machinery brands in Bangladesh.

Overview​

In 1968, a British multinational Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) branch was established in the then East Pakistan. After independence, ICI Bangladesh Manufacturers Limited was established as a public limited company on 24 January 1973, Which was listed on Dhaka Stock Exchange on 28 December 1976. Later on,5 May 1992, ICI plc transferred the majority shareholding (70%) of the company to Bangladeshi shareholders, and the name of the company was changed to Advanced Chemical Industries Limited, which is now popularly known as ACI Limited. Several other concerns under the ACI Limited umbrella include Pharmaceutical, Electrical, Agri Business, Healthcare, FMCG, Motors, Biotech, Chemicals, and Retail Chains.

ACI Motors Limited primarily operates in categories such as agricultural, automobiles, infrastructure development machinery, musical instruments, generators, and lubricants with an annual turnover of over BDT 2500 Crores.

Along with the economic growth of Bangladesh, the use of heavy equipment and motor vehicles in the agricultural sector is constantly increasing. Even though crop production in Bangladesh is growing continually, most farmers still work manually, from planting the seeds to harvesting and threshing the rice. Currently, the market size of agriculture machinery in Bangladesh is BDT 3000 core, but the potential market size of this market is BDT 30,000 core. By giving importance to this issue, the journey of ACI Motors started in 2007 by Subrata Ranjan Das. Subrata Ranjan Das completed his BSc in Agricultural Engineering from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 1993. At the start of his career, he worked as a Regional Sector Specialist of BRAC till 1999. That year in October, he joined ACI Limited’s Crop Care Division as a Marketing Officer. After successfully serving in various positions there for a long time, in 2007, the ACI launched its Motors Division on his initiative. Subrata Ranjan Das is currently serving as the Executive Director of ACI Motors Limited. Under his supervision, the company management team has more than 1500 employees aged from 27 to 29.

Operation​

ACI Motors Limited mainly operates in different segments like Agricultural Machinery, Automobiles, Infrastructure Development Machinery, Musical Instruments, Generators, and Lubricants.

Agriculture Machinery​

In 2007, ACI Motors introduced the Indian brand Sonalika Tractor in the agricultural machinery segment in Bangladesh. This tractor is quite popular in India as well as in the international market. Even now, this tractor is being exported to more than 130 countries around the world. ACI Motors imported this tractor to Bangladesh, and gradually it became quite popular in the country. And today, Sonalika occupies more than 35% of the tractor market in Bangladesh.

Sonalika tractor was imported to Bangladesh by ACI Motors with a market share of more than 35%.

But, since the price of the tractor is usually between 11 to 16 lakh taka, most of the farmers in Bangladesh couldn’t buy a tractor at such a price. Keeping this in mind, the following year, in 2008, ACI Motors introduced its second product, the ACI Power Tiller. The power tiller basically offers almost the same benefits as the tractor, and since the price range is between 1.5 and 2.5 lakh taka, power tillers are affordable for many farmers. ACI Motors basically manufactured their power tillers in China and brought them to Bangladesh. Currently, 1/3rd of Bangladesh’s total cultivation is done using Sonalika tractors and ACI power tillers. Along with tractors and power tillers, in 2009, the company added diesel engines to its portfolio, which are being used in remote areas of the country for shallow machines and boat engines.

Besides these, in 2010, ACI Motors introduced the first combine harvester in the Bangladeshi market as advanced agricultural machinery. Since then, the company has started various training and awareness programs on mechanized harvesting among farmers in Bangladesh. Note that, the Ha0r area is one of the top rice producers in the northern region of the country, meeting more than 60 percent of Bangladesh’s rice demand.

Sonalika Tractor

Combine Harvester

However, during the rainy season, when the area is often flooded, it severely damages the crops. Even in the Covid epidemic period, there was a shortage of manpower. ACI Motors distributed more than 300 harvesters to farmers in the Haor region of the country to harvest crops before the full onset of the monsoon season when there was a shortage of manpower. In terms of planting seedlings, Bangladeshi farmers have been planting seedlings by hand for a long time ago. But for planting seedlings by hand, seeds are first sown in the soil, and seedlings are produced by pulling them by hand and then planting them in the field. In this process, the roots of the seedlings are damaged during manual lifting of the seedlings from the soil, which is one of the major reasons for yield reduction. Again, hand planting may damage the seedlings by sudden rains or floods without firmly establishing them in the soil. To solve this problem, in 2011, ACI Motors introduced the “Rice Transplanter” machine in the Bangladeshi market. With the help of a rice planter, seedlings can be planted in a fully automatic manner at a low cost and time. According to ACI Motors Executive Director Subrata Ranjan Das, rice transplanter reduces the cost of rice planting by up to 50 % and increases rice yield by 10 %, and helps reduce 80 percent of the farmer’s labor. In the same year, the company introduced its ACI Water Pump. In the country, several other companies have water pumps.

However, the ACI Motors water pump is very popular among consumers because of its high quality. Currently, ACI Water Pump is used by more than 10 lakhs households in Bangladesh. In 2016, ACI Motors was able to set the benchmark of providing on-spot service within 6 hours for After Sales Service in Bangladesh’s Agriculture Machinery Industry. ACI Motors currently has an after-sales service team of more than 450 service engineers who reach the customer’s doorstep within a maximum of 6 hours to resolve all machine issues. To ensure customer satisfaction, the company constantly monitors the service engineers’ performance. Also, In 2019, the company introduced YANMAR Harvester and Transplanter in collaboration with Japanese brand YANMAR, which has already become quite popular in Bangladesh. Yanmar, one of Japan’s leading agricultural machinery, diesel engine, and heavy machinery manufacturers.

ACI Water Pump is being used by over 10 lac families in Bangladesh.

Infrastructure Development Machineries​

In 2014, ACI Motors joined the Earth Moving Industry of Bangladesh, And the world’s leading full-line construction equipment manufacturer, “CASE Construction Equipment,” launched equipment like Backhoe Loader, Soil compactors, and Tandem rollers in the Bangladesh market. In 2017, ACI Motors also added products from the leading Chinese brand “LOVOL Construction Equipment” to its Wheel Loader and Mini Excavator segments. Also, in 2018 ACI Motors achieved a new milestone by introducing one of the world’s most popular Japanese brands, “KOBELCO,” in their High-end Excavator segment. Kobelco’s heavy construction equipment is also being used in megaprojects like Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Metrorail, and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal.

Automobiles​

In 2016, ACI Motors became the official and sole distributor of YAMAHA Motorcycles, one of the world’s most popular Japanese motorcycle manufacturing companies in Bangladesh. Yamaha is one of the top motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Apart from motorbikes, the company also manufactures various types of motor vehicles, including musical instruments. In 2019, ACI Motors also got the license to manufacture Yamaha motorcycles in Bangladesh as the sole worldwide distributor.

ACI Motors also received the permission to manufacture Yamaha motorcycles in Bangladesh as the sole global distributor in 2019.

ACI Motors’ sales and marketing efforts have made Yamaha one of the most popular motorcycle brands among Bangladeshi youth in just a few years and are currently one of the highest-selling bike brands in the country. Yamaha R15 in the country’s sports bike category, and Yamaha FZ series bikes in the sports commuter bike category are the most popular bikes in Bangladesh. The Yamaha biker community in Bangladesh is one of the largest biker communities in the country. Currently, Yamaha has more than 100 servicing centers across the country. Following the success of Yamaha motorbikes in the country, in 2020, the Dutch government’s private sector investment institution FMO, Singapore-based SDI Pte Ltd., invested TK 126 Core with ACI-Motors in a joint venture with it. Besides, in 2018, ACI Motors started distributing Foton’s medium and heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks, vans, and pickup buses in Bangladesh with an agreement with Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Foton Motor Group. Foton, one of the world’s top-selling companies in the commercial vehicle segment, sees Bangladesh as a lucrative market and plans to set up its assembling facility in the country in the future. Foton’s light commercial vehicles have already established a strong presence in the domestic market, and this segment is constantly expanding.

Foton ambulance delivery ceremony.

Others​

Most of the musical instruments available in Bangladesh are imported from abroad by local traders and sold in the local market. Since 2019, ACI Motors has become the Bangladeshi distributor of the world-famous brand Yamaha Music. Besides, ACI Motors is also importing Yamaha, Yorpower, and Mimoinsa brand generators. Apart from this, in 2021, ACI Motors started the distribution of Italy’s top lubricant brand ENI in Bangladesh.

One of the reasons behind the current success of ACI Motors is the company’s young and dedicated workforce. Currently, the company has more than 1500 employees. With a valuation of around Tk 2500 core, ACI Motors has now become one of the leading machinery and motor brands in Bangladesh. In the financial year 2021-22, the total revenue of the company exceeded Tk 2300 core.

The company’s overall revenue in the fiscal year 2021–2022 exceeded BDT 2300 core.

Although the potential size of Bangladesh’s agriculture machinery market is Tk 30,000 core, actually only Tk 3000 core of machinery is being used. One of the reasons for this is the increase in the price of imported machinery. Keeping this in mind, ACI Motors is currently trying to manufacture world-class Yanmar brand machinery in the country through an agreement with the Japanese brand Yanmar.

Besides, ACI Motors has several achievements, this includes the First International Impact Investment Summit Award from Build Bangladesh in 2016, and the first prize as a supplier of all types of machinery required for agricultural mechanization at the National Agricultural Machinery Fair in 2018 and 19 consecutively. Besides, on March 26, 2018, ACI Motors Limited was able to get a name in the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the world’s most oversized motorcycle logo. In 2021, ACI-Motors won the ‘Best Customer Care’ award from Foton Motor Group. Also, in 2022, ACI-Motors won the “Foton Global Excellent Brand Communication” and “Foton Global Service System Construction Merit” award.

So they are basicly just distributor of imported goods. Not that great. I suppose they are developing some engineering capacity in their support services and only now taking some rudimentary steps in assembling.

Until they get into production value addition is minor.

 

[Bilal9]

So they are basicly just distributor of imported goods. Not that great. I suppose they are developing some engineering capacity in their support services and only now taking some rudimentary steps in assembling.

Until they get into production value addition is minor.

Well you got to start somewhere. Local value addition is something that grows gradually by demand. But I'd say demand has been there from the get go.

It's the Indian agents we have as ministers that are the problem.

You can thank our India friendly Hasina govt. for opening up the floodgates for Indian-made finished engg. goods so they can export to their heart's content to our market and make us their economic vassal.

If we had tariff support, we could have set up these engg. goods assembly locally. This India-friendly govt. are such Ch*t*as that they will not even assign punitive tariff to Indian motorcycle parts import - just to ease and aid local Indian motorcycle assembly in Bangladesh.

Our local motorcycle parts and assembly operations in Bangladesh can't do $hit because Indian motorcycles have economies of scale from their Indian market making their products cheaper. Our govt. will not help level the playing field for our motorcycle mfrs. (like Runner for example).

Now think - if motorcycle mfrs. aren't helped, which has almost unbelievable demand, then what will happen with tractors and agri-equipment? They will all be imported from India.

Our Ma*archo* trade. commerce and industry ministers and higher ups are all "marka-mara" Indian agents.

Tapan Kanti Ghosh - Wikipedia

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Tipu Munshi - Wikipedia

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Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun - Wikipedia

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Kamal Ahmed Majumder - Wikipedia

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They have been put in place at Indian request so zero tariff will be put in place for finished Indian goods, which are imported and sold in our market. Not only Indian engg. goods but all sorts of useless Indian FMCG goods like food/shampoo etc.

Anytime Indians want to export something to Bangladesh, these Indian agent ministers temporarily lower tariff to zero. I have been watching this for a long, long time. Bunch of kuttas and suwars these ministers.

Try THAT approach in Indian market itself and see how far you get. They will tariff all foreign imports to the hilt and will go down in the streets to "praa-tesht" if not....

Local value addition can only grow when you have tariff support from the govt. - of which Bangladesh has zero.

This is amply shown when you see how far the local electronics and white goods sectors have grown (Walton etc.) because of tariff support (where, interestingly - Indians have almost nothing to export to Bangladesh).

We import even huge quantities of Ovaltine and Complan/Horlicks from India. We don't possess capability to make that locally??

These bunch of Indian agent ministers should be shot at sight.

 

[Bilal9]

The Bridge to Development​

31 October 2022

Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee

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Bangladesh recently evidenced the historical moment marking the inauguration of the Padma Bridge on 25th June 2022, inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The bridge was a dream seen several decades back by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the visionary leader who dreamt of Bangladesh grooming in its highest developmental state and progressing amongst the major nations in the world. Might sound like an overstatement when a whole nation is synonymously addressing the Padma Bridge with development, but it's very true indeed. The bridge is a symbol of national aspiration and must not be used as a means of transportation only but must be realized as a corridor of economic growth. It carries significance for Bangladesh on several accounts. There is a strong confidence factor here - the bridge is the ultimate testament on how a country with limited resources can achieve its goals only if there is determination and a powerful leadership, of none other than Bangladesh's Hon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Padma Bridge shall build the strong connectivity of 21 South Western districts with the Capital, Dhaka. The internal connectivity along with regional connectivity will further strengthen. The Bridge shall write the new tale of development for that region with the aim of making quality of life standardized; employment options bloom, flourish economic development and add immense value in the 4th industrial development. New corridors for employment and income will be created. The transportation system will improve as movement of people will be enhanced. Supply chains within the country shall be connected better. People from the south-western region are further expected to have better access to education, healthcare and other services, something that which was seen to quite a doting task for the quite neglected region. This will not only allow people to move to urban areas easily, but enormous opportunities shall also come to the rural areas.

The Padma Bridge is estimated to increase the GDP of the country by appx. two percent. It will benefit about three crore people across 21 South-Western districts of Bangladesh. The Bridge shall further house a parallel railway system which is soon to be completed as well. This shall contribute another 1 per cent to the GDP of the country. The share of the agriculture sector to the GDP of the country has significantly declined with the emergence of non-farm activities in the rural areas, lately. This will be facilitated by several factors including better communication and connectivity, further strengthening the ties across the states connecting all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector. The same is happening for the fisheries sector.

The lack of proper connectivity had previously taken several lives as well. When critical patients were to be transported to the capital from the south-western districts, often some breathed their last while waiting in the queue to be loaded on the ferry. Such sad stories marked many families with endless grief throughout their lives. But the scenario is no longer the same now. Ambulance drivers were hopeful about the new ease in travelling and expressed satisfaction on not having to see their patients pass in front of their eyes, merely due to length of journey. The same shall be for people seeking legal support to and fro from the capital while heading to the highest Court in the land, The Supreme Court of Bangladesh. The Padma bridge shall create a strong internal demand for this area. There will be a need for sub- bridges, roads, express ways, and all these must be constructed on a fast track basis.

The economic growth of any economy is greatly depended on a reliable infrastructure, and they are mutually beneficial. Studies have found positive relationship between infrastructure and economic output in many countries. This happens through gross domestic capital formation, employment, trade and human capital. Good infrastructure enhances productive capacity and improves competitiveness of a country.
Since 2015, Bangladesh has been working towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Bangladesh has achieved the pointers for graduating from the LDC, and by 2027, the full process shall be completed. Now the nation aspires to become a developed country by 2041.

As the 4th industrial revolution is on the go, the Padma Bridge shall have an enormously positive impact on the future growth of the industries in the nation. The country's main foreign exchange earner, the readymade garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh houses for 81 per cent of the exports of the nation and shall experience a steadfast growth with the increased connectivity with the South-Western regions now. Most of the nation's knitwear and garment facilities are located in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. But we will be able now set up many RMG and other industries in the south and South-Western parts, with increased interest of the buyers willing to explore and set up JVs in the said area given the new opportunities entailed.

The sector is currently solely depended on the Chottagram Sea Port for exports while the South-Western Mongla Port is functioning on a limited scale due to a lack of roads. The country is also building two other seaports -- Matarbari and Payra. But with the bridge functioning, the said ports along Payra Deep Sea Port and the Benapole land port, will be plausible options to export from to their ultimate destinations, in significantly lesser time and distance, and avoiding the hassel of the container congestion in the Chattogram port.

Meanwhile, Patrapole is also under proper development work, which shall further be under use. The Payra Port, which is soon to near to its completion, will be the first deep-sea port of the nation, allowing mother vessels to berth directly, instead of the feeder vessels at the moment. This shall in turn reduce our export time, for example, the appx. 35 days of export time to China shall be much lesser, including exports to other continents. Increasing the importance of the Mongla port in the movement of commodities and improving connection between Dhaka and the south will save many working hours, accelerating the country's economic growth.

Likewise, the bridge is expected to attenuate public struggle by generating employment for 1.2 per cent of the total labor force. For example, setting up of industries in the newly connected districts will help stop migration from the rural areas to the big cities for work. Better access to finance for small and medium businesses such as agro-processing, handicrafts and food industries will also help create jobs. Besides, improvements of facilities such as uninterrupted electricity, internet, education and healthcare in the villages, will retrain people from crowding the cities. The much needed de-centralisation might just as well start realising in the most passive form, but yet shall reduce the pressure of working people moving to the capital each day for generating a livelihood.

Its important the government makes the crucial decision of which sector they wish to focus on - industry, agriculture or service? This must be made clear in the policy making of the upcoming fiscal years. There should be a mention of what incentives will be offered to the investors in the given areas for future investments, and also tax incentives that will be available for the said investors.

One cannot expect that the bridge shall automatically create different opportunities for people. This requirement to realise the allocated special economic zones in the area in a fast track priority basis is of utmost importance. In addition to that, availability of land with utility, finance, tax incentives are needed to be incorporated in the government policy. RMG Industries heavily depend on gas supply. The Gas lines have extended till Bhola. Its now a demand of time to further extend the gas lines towards the 21 South-Western districts, enhancing the opportunities for new industries to sprout. This shall play a pivotal role in the development of this sector enhancing job opportunities. These economic benefits shall depend on the government's support to the business community and investors.

Furthermore, the local products of the South-Western region will now have an increased opportunity with greater access to wider markets and improved supply chain in the capital. It will further speedup the urban-centric development process in this historically backward region. Jute, the once "golden fiber" and prime export item, which had subsided over time, after this connectivity, might as well resuscitate, and boost the country's economy a lot.

The Padma Bridge will not only boost national connectivity but will also help Bangladesh to be a significant center of regional communication, thus furthering the new hot spots of tourist attractions in the South-Western regions which remained majorly unseen - the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, Kuakata beach, Khan Jahan Ali Mazar and other likes. A link road with the double-layer steel truss bridge, including a four-lane highway on the upper level and a single-track railway on the lower level, will connect with the trans-Asian highway and railway networks. It will strategically strengthen Bangladesh in the region. This shall further develop hotels, motels and resorts in the given region, further increasing the job opportunities. Our connectivity with India, Myanmar, China, and the rest of the region will be smoothened and it will push the country's economy to a new height.

The Bridge of dreams has created a web of hope for millions across the nation. People celebrated unanimously after the Bridge was inaugurated believing how this shall change their lives for the better. Bangladesh has stepped into the era of not just a country graduating from LDC, but also classified as a role-model of development, with another dream to be realised soon, the Bangabandhu Tunnel, at Karnaphuli. From a bottomless basket, the journey till date has been the most memorable one for the nation which recently celebrated 50 years of its journey as an independent country. The most fast-growing sector of the country, the RMG, is hopeful that the new developments shall not just allow new industries to form, and create a huge opportunity in the job market, but also allow Bangladesh to flourish as a nation in the International arena as well.

(The writer is BGMEA, Director of Envoy Group and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh).​