Some manufacturers dump faulty cars to clear stock at cheap rates and most of the time poor countries become their dumping ground, he said at the formal opening ceremony of the Bangladesh International Motor Show-2003 yesterday at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Automobiles Distributors Association (BADA) has organised the five-day show, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, to showcase new cars.

He said the government last year banned the import of reconditioned cars but stayed the ban for three years, considering economic losses of people involved in the business.

The government also banned cars aging 20 years or above to reduce environment pollution, he said, adding the government will take every step to minimise air pollution.

Regarding the severe crisis of CNG filling stations, the minister said 80 railway plots has been leased to different traders to set up CNG stations in Dhaka. The lessees have been given six-month deadline, which ends August this year to complete construction; otherwise they will face confiscation of the guarantee money of Tk. 25 lakh.

All the petrol pumps in Dhaka have been asked to install CNG units in their compounds within six months, otherwise they will face cancellation of their lease agreements with government, the minister said. He assured that CNG filling station crisis will be solved once these stations go into operation from August.

Putting immense importance on communication, he said the sector is key to industrialisation. Referring to a declaration of Finance and Planning Minister Saifur Rahman that the next fiscal year will be a year of rail communication, Nazmul Huda said railway sector will get boost in the coming budget.

Addressing the ceremony, Environment and Forests Minister Shahjahan Siraj said road and transportation sector must be improved to help grow industry.

He said environmental issues should not be compromised in the development of transport sector.

BADA President M Salahuddin urged the government to formulate automobile trade policy to help the country enter auto age.

He appreciated government efforts for rationalising duties on car imports in last year's budget which has brought new cars within the affordability of middle-class people.

From today to June 1, the exhibition will remain open to visitors from 10am to 9pm.

A Rouf Chowdhury, chairman of Rangs Group, Matiur Rahman, managing director of Uttara Motors Ltd, Abdul Malik, chairman of MAM group, Abdul Awal Mintoo, chairman of Multimode Group, and Iftekhar Ahmed, chairman and managing director of Ifad Autos Ltd, were present at the opening ceremony.