THAKURGAON — As soaring fuel prices and long lines at filling stations leave ordinary Bangladeshis struggling, a young inventor in Ranisankail upazila is offering a glimpse of an alternative. Using low-cost, environmentally friendly technology, Ratan Mohanta has built a battery-powered motorcycle that has drawn widespread attention in the area.
Ratan Mohanta, the son of Suren Mohanta from the Mahalbari area of Ranisankail municipality, works as an auto-van mechanic. He supports his family on the modest income he earns from repairing bicycles and vans. But his limited means have not stopped his innovative thinking.
Mohanta said he bought a used 100cc Suzuki motorcycle in 2019 and quickly ran into mechanical problems. Repeated repairs failed to provide a lasting fix, and as fuel costs climbed, he began to rethink his approach. He eventually decided to remove the conventional engine and convert the motorcycle entirely to electric power. In place of the engine, he installed four 12-volt batteries and an auto-rickshaw motor.
The result is a working battery-powered motorcycle that now travels easily on local roads. The bike can cover about 120 kilometers on a single charge at a cost of just 5 taka in electricity. A conventional motorcycle would burn about 400 taka of fuel for the same distance — a vast difference in operating costs.
“At first many people laughed at my work,” Mohanta said. “No one wanted to believe this bike could run. But I did not give up. Now that people are suffering for fuel, the same people are praising my work.”
Crowds have been gathering at his home each day to see the bike, and several motorcycle owners have already expressed interest in converting their own vehicles to battery power. Many see it as a practical alternative amid the current fuel crisis.
Abu Hanif, a neighbor, said: “We have to wait hours to buy fuel. But Ratan moves around easily and his costs are much lower. I am also thinking about converting my bike to battery power.”
Local residents Jahangir, Najmul and Akhtar said the fuel shortage has become a major burden, often requiring hours in line with no guarantee of getting any fuel. The disruption is hardest on those who depend on motorcycles for daily travel, they said. They called Mohanta’s battery-powered bike a new hope, noting that if a vehicle can travel 100-120 kilometers at very low cost, it offers real benefits both in expense and in escaping the daily fuel queues.
The residents said they had seen the bike in operation themselves, which had increased their interest. If the technology can be further developed and made widely usable, it could become an effective alternative for ordinary people, they said. They urged the administration and other authorities to support the innovation so other young people could follow Mohanta’s example.
Md. Mithun, a former councilor of Ranisankail municipality, said: “Ratan’s work is truly impressive. If a bike can run at such low cost, it will benefit ordinary people like us. Given the current fuel troubles, this kind of initiative is exactly what we need. I believe that with a little support, he can do even better and inspire others in the area to innovate as well.”
Khadija Begum, the upazila executive officer of Ranisankail, said Mohanta’s initiative is genuinely commendable. The creativity and innovative thinking he has shown could serve as inspiration to others, she said. Given the current fuel crisis, his battery-powered motorcycle could be seen as a promising alternative. The administration will give serious consideration to providing necessary support for such initiatives, she said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report