Dhaka, May 09 (V7N) — Tarique Rahman on Saturday (May 9) encouraged a young man with special needs, Wakimul Islam, by riding in a battery-powered “smart car” designed and built by the teenager using local technology.

The specially designed vehicle, named “A to I Smart Car,” was showcased during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office in Tejgaon.

During the meeting, Wakimul Islam demonstrated the small electric vehicle to the Prime Minister. Later, the Prime Minister took a ride in the smart car with the young innovator.

Tarique Rahman praised the 17-year-old for developing the vehicle using domestic technology and encouraged him to create more advanced and user-friendly smart vehicles at low cost. He also assured government support for such innovative initiatives.

Wakimul Islam shared the story behind his invention during the meeting. He said he once spent most of his time confined at home and began building the vehicle to gain independent mobility outdoors.

The young innovator is a science student in class XI at Chaugacha Government College. His father is a small businessman.

Wakimul also said that with proper support and modern technology, it would be possible to build more advanced smart vehicles that could benefit both people with special needs and elderly citizens.

Abdus Sattar Dulal, founder and executive director of the Bangladesh Protibandhi Kalyan Samity (BPKES), said the smart car can travel up to 50 kilometers on a single electric charge and has a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour.

Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office were also present at the event.

END/SMA/AJ