Meanwhile, environmentalists asked the government for a transportation policy so that the infrastructure can withstand the extra-pressure of the increasing vehicles in the cities.

The roundtable titled 'Reconditioned Car: Import Policy and Reality' was jointly organised by Shaptahik 2000 and Channel i at the National Press Club.

President of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (Barvida) Abdul Huq reiterated his demand for withdrawal of the ban on importing cars aged more than four years and allowing import of vehicles up to six years old besides heavy passenger/industrial vehicles.

He also sought a rational depreciation rate for the reconditioned cars saying that this rate should not be similar to the one applicable for a 4-year old car.

He said until 2002, a 50 percent depreciation rate remained effective and then the government set it to 20 percent for four-year-old cars and an embargo on import of cars more than four years old was imposed.

Citing an instance of Japanese reconditioned cars, he said quality of most of the cars remain intact years after their use, he said. As the car holders are not interested to sell four years old cars, it is difficult for Bangladeshi consumers to have those cars , he explained.

Pointing to other anomalies in importing reconditioned cars, he said once a reconditioned car is imported, it is first registered in the name of the dealers and then it is transferred to the buyer to register in the name of the owners, which is unlawful.

Registration should be in the name of the owners and importers are not owners, he argued.

On alleged air pollution raised by some quarters, he said as the imported reconditioned cars are first tested in the country of origin and then exported, these cars should not be blamed for such pollution.

The pollution level also depends on the quality of fuel used in the cars, he said, adding that in most cases reconditioned cars are converted to CNG-run ones that are environment- friendly.

AQM Mahbub, chairman of Geography and Environment Department of Dhaka University, suggested that the government should formulate such a transport policy that would ensure accessibility and mobility.

Policy makers should keep in mind whether the existing infrastructure of the capital can sustain a possible pressure of at least 20 percent higher than the existing volume, he said.

Prof KM Maniruzzaman of Urban and Regional Planning Department at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) said before improvement in city infrastructure, policymakers should not opt for public transports.

Addressing the programme, Shykh Siraj spoke of the importance of reconditioned vehicles in creating mobility in the agro-based economy in the rural areas.

Arguing for low priced high quality vehicles for bringing in mobility in marketing of the agro-products, he said from Mymensingh district alone around 600 fish-loaded microbuses enter into the city during 12:00am to 6:00am every day.

Economist Prof Atiur Rahman expressed the hope that a policy support would have a positive impact on the country's reconditioned car market, which would ultimately benefit the economy.

President of the Workers Party of Bangladesh Rashed Khan Menon lamented that reforms are going on everywhere except in the economic affairs.

Acting Editor of the Shaptahik 2000 Golam Murtuza conducted the roundtable, while Organising Secretary of Bangladesh Business Forum in Japan MDS Islam, eminent journalist Syed Abul Maksud and Editor of the daily Vorer Kagoj Shyamol Dutta spoke on the occasion.