Motorcycle sales in Jashore halve

Highlights

• In 2019-20, 1,403 motorcycles were registered in July, 674 in August, 718 in September, 853 in October, 792 in November, 1,554 in December, 1,386 in January, 1,446 in February, and 966 in March and only 210 in June
• In 2017-18, 12,366 vehicles were registered, of which 11,367 were motorcycles, and the government collected revenue of around Tk16.46 crores
• In 2018-19, 13,842 vehicles were registered of which the number of motorcycles was 13,006, generating revenue of Tk16.43 crores
• In 2019-20, 10,903 vehicles were registered while there were 10,440 motorcycles, and the government received revenue of almost Tk15 crores

The sales of motorcycles in Jashore district have halved due to the adverse impacts of Covid-19. The traders of this sector are looking for a time when the situation will become normal and the sales rate of motorcycles will be better as it was in the past.

Businessmen concerned said they are in crisis because the business was completely closed in April and May. They paid showroom rent and staff salaries even though sales dropped. Moreover, customers are also not paying dues.

With an investment of more than Tk100 crores by motorcycle traders, there are 50 motorcycle showrooms in the district and many service centres, employing about 700 people.

Mizanur Rahman, general secretary of the Khulna Divisional Motorcycle Dealers Association and dealer of TVS Motorcycles on Jashore Railway Road, said, "Our 150cc expensive bikes are not selling well even with a discount of Tk20,000. Most buyers are buying low priced 100cc bikes. This has halved our motorcycle sales.

"Whereas 100 motorcycles were sold per month before, it has come down to only 40 now. The main problem after the sale is the collection of instalments. Customers are not paying the instalment properly. Many of them are unreachable since March," he added.

Rashidul Hasan Shamim, the proprietor of 3-R Auto, a dealer of Uttara Motors' Bajaj Company, said sales dropped by a half. Moreover, he has been facing a supply crisis.

"Bajaj is not able to produce bikes in India due to high Covid-19 rates. As a result, there are few Pulsar and Discover model bikes which have demands among customers," he added.

Abu Shahriar, proprietor of Honda dealer Venus Auto in the district, said their sales have dropped by 25 percent.

The price of the motorcycles in their showroom ranges between Tk98,000 and Tk480,000. The Honda Hornet 150cc motorcycle is the most in demand whose price is Tk1,89,900, he added.

Shariful Alam, the proprietor of Suzuki Motorcycle dealer New Jashore Trading, said motorcycle sales were down 40 percent because people are suffering from the financial crisis in Covid-19. Only a solvent person buys a motorcycle.

Earlier, Suzuki demand was good but that is not at present, he said.

According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Jashore office, in the fiscal year 2019-20, 1,403 motorcycles were registered in July, 674 in August, 718 in September, 853 in October, 792 in November, 1,554 in December, 1,386 in January, 1,446 in February, and 966 in March and only 210 in June.

In the 2017-18 financial year, 12,366 vehicles were registered, of which 11,367 were motorcycles, and the government collected revenue of around Tk16.46 crores.

In the financial year 2018-19, 13,842 vehicles were registered, of which the number of motorcycles was 13,006, generating revenue of Tk16.43 crores.

In the 2019-20 financial year, 10,903 vehicles were registered while there were 10,440 motorcycles, and the government received revenue of almost Tk15 crores.

Mizanur Rahman Khan, former president of the Jashore Chamber of Commerce and a car importer, said, "There is no sector which has not been affected by Covid-19. Sales of all types of cars have collapsed. In our country, all types of cars and motorcycles are sold on credit. As the customers are not paying any money the traders are under economic pressure."

BRTA Jashore and Narail Circle Office Assistant Director (engineering) Kazi Md Murshalin said, "Our revenue collection has decreased. People did not buy cars due to the low flow of money amid the Covid-19 crisis."