Youth builds solar-powered tricycle

Yousuf Sardar is a young electrician from Chandpur district who spent six months and Tk 17,000 to build a tricycle that runs on solar power. While the aim was to make a cost effective mode of transport for himself and his disabled mother, it earned him instantaneous fame and brought in recognition at science fairs in Dhaka and Chittagong. Innovation and enterprising are two words that describe this young man and he even got a letter of appreciation from the prime minister. The trike, as it is known, was designed by Sardar whose work is an inspiration for other budding innovators and should be given more than just commendations. 

It is an interesting to note that Sardar is now thinking of introducing technology that will allow for the trike to be operated with one hand. This represents the next step in innovation and requires capital infusion. We should be actively sponsoring products like this which could potentially be built and sold at a much reduced cost. It would certainly facilitate mobility for the physically challenged people in the country and being solar powered, offer an environmentally friendly and low cost transportation for many people. It is refreshing to come across a simple electrician like Sardar who thinks outside the box and with some financial aid; his trike could one day be produced in larger scale to benefit the public in general.