The government has taken an initiative to introduce electric buses to reduce pressure on fuel consumption, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said today.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat, he said there remains concern over the situation in the Middle East and warned that conditions could deteriorate at any time. However, he added that Bangladesh currently has sufficient fuel oil reserves.

Zahed said the plan to introduce electric buses aims to ease pressure on fuel use, adding that the service will initially be launched for students.

“In the future, we will have to move towards electricity, and the duties on electric buses for students will be zero,” he said.

Regarding local government elections, he said the polls are expected to begin towards the end of this year and may take between 10 months and one year to complete.

He also said the government has no plan to abolish the upazila parishad.

“Under Section 25 of the law, a Member of Parliament serves as an adviser to the Upazila Parishad and should therefore have an office there,” he added.