RFL Group opens 2nd bicycle factory

RFL Group opened its second bicycle factory in Rangpur's Gangachara upazila to meet the growing demand in both local and export markets.

The factory will annually produce six lakh bicycles once fully operational, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of Pran-RFL Group, said at the launch event held on the factory premises at Lalchandpur village in Rangpur.

RFL Group, founded in Rangpur 42 years ago, has been manufacturing bicycles since 2014.

The group exports bicycles to 15 countries, including Australia, England, Netherlands and Belgium.

The company set up its first bicycle factory at Shayestaganj of Habiganj in 2014.

Around 8 lakh bicycles are produced each year at the Habiganj factory.

Along with assembling and manufacturing bicycles, spare parts such as frames, tubes and tyre forks will also be produced at the 70,000 square-feet factory, which cost about Tk 60 crore to build, Chowdhury added.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi attended the event as chief guest.

Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior commerce secretary, Mohammad Abdul Alim Mahmud, deputy inspector general of the Bangladesh Police in Rangpur, Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, senior vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, and others also spoke.