Writing
Notes from building.
Essays and a real-time founder's journal of building Bangladesh's first homegrown electric vehicle company — newest first.
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30 May 2026 · 3 min read
The 89% problem
An imported electric car almost doubles in price before anyone sits in it. The number isn't an argument against EVs — it's an argument for building them here.
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23 May 2026 · 1 min read
Why I'm writing here
A short note on why I'm starting to write in the open about building an electric vehicle company from Bangladesh.
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7 March 2026 · 2 min read
The day I discovered Claude AI
On the 2nd day of Ramadan, I discovered Claude AI. First, I tested the free model to see if it actually works. Then I bought the full $200 subscription…
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31 December 2025 · 2 min read
2025 — building the foundation properly
2025 — Building the Foundation Properly 2025 was a year of building — not just products, but systems, clarity, and discipline. What moved forward • We…
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19 October 2025 · 2 min read
Delivering V3 to Shahjuddin Sir
On September 30th, we delivered the Cityboy Version-3 car to Shahjuddin Sir. Today, I went to check how the car was doing—how it’s running, how much income…
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7 October 2025 · 2 min read
Our first Cityboy V3 is delivered
The first Cityboy Version-3 car has been delivered — and it’s already on the road. The owner is using it in Mirpur as a commercial passenger car. This year…
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2 October 2025 · 1 min read
A historic milestone for Palki
🚗✨ A Historic Milestone for Palki Motors ✨🚗 On 30th September, while I was away, my incredible team delivered our first customer car of Cityboy V3 model — a…
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1 September 2025 · 1 min read
Why I stepped back after raising funds
After raising funds, I chose to step back from media, events, and constant networking. I realized the only thing that matters right now is building our…
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29 June 2025 · 2 min read
Cityboy V3 reaches the paint shop
Finally, the production-ready Cityboy V3 has entered the paint section. It’s scalable, 100% designed and made in Bangladesh — by our people, for our…
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23 June 2025 · 1 min read
Why writing an SOP is not enough
Writing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is not enough. You have to write it, let your team study it, and then test whether they’ve actually learned it…
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21 March 2025 · 1 min read
Palki's 4th Ramadan
Palki Motors’ 4th Ramadan! Just like that, it’s been three years since I started working at Palki Motors. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by!…
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16 March 2025 · 1 min read
What I learned about hiring experienced people
Experienced Employees' Shit Show in Bangladesh: This is the first time I am hiring six-figure employees in Bangladesh. Here is what I find to be the…
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25 February 2025 · 1 min read
A customer gave me a Panjabi
Today, one of my customers gifted me a Panjabi. He says he receives such respect here that he keeps coming back every few months. These are my greatest…
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23 February 2025 · 2 min read
Why I really started Palki
The beginning of Palki Motors was driven by many reasons, but one of the most significant was the desire to work with smart and talented people. After coming…
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11 February 2025 · 2 min read
Looking towards the future
Looking Towards the Future We have successfully closed our pre-seed funding round—Alhamdulillah! Then, winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize gave us an…
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19 December 2024 · 2 min read
My brother, and the shoulders I stand on
My eldest brother, Mostafa Al Mahmud has been elected as the President of BSREA (Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association). He was the…
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12 December 2024 · 2 min read
From 300 to 10,000 square feet
From 300 Square Feet to 10,000 Square Feet: The Journey of Palki Motors With the Accelerating Asia Ventures Virtual Demo Day now officially behind us, I’m…
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8 December 2024 · 2 min read
My fundraising journey in Singapore
My Fundraising Journey in Singapore This was my first trip to Singapore and my first experience raising funds. I arrived two days before the Accelerating…
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15 November 2024 · 2 min read
A crazy expansion idea
In January 2024, I had this crazy expansion idea. Our current gross profit margin is around 20%, which is surprisingly higher than the automotive industry…
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12 November 2024 · 2 min read · translated
Why I keep going
Making a car is hard, but coming close to product-market fit is even harder. So many hard tests, so many failures. Sometimes I think, let it go, let me cry…
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6 November 2024 · 2 min read
Our $10k crowdfunding update
$10k Crowdfunding Update Thank you all for your encouraging messages, comments, and feedback on our crowdfunding initiative. I’m truly humbled by the…
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29 October 2024 · 3 min read · translated
Shahin Sir and 1,768 test drives
Shahin Sir, 1,768 test drives, and the story of Version-3. Many of you may know Shahin Sir. He is the owner of Palki's first commercial passenger car, the…
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20 October 2024 · 1 min read · translated
How Palki was born
(I am teaching ChatGPT with all of my Bangla writing. It wrote this story — how Palki was born. Here it is.) From this thought, Palki Motors was born. Palki…
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14 October 2024 · 2 min read
Is it time to rethink Dhaka's rickshaws?
Is it time to rethink the rickshaw industry in Dhaka? Dhaka’s rickshaw market is valued at $2B, yet it remains one of the most expensive, slow, and unsafe…
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2 October 2024 · 2 min read
Into Accelerating Asia with $100,000
Palki Motors Accepted into Accelerator Asia’s Cohort 10 with $100,000 Impact Investment Dhaka, Bangladesh – October 2, 2024 – Palki Motors Pte. Ltd., a…
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24 August 2024 · 3 min read
What Mohnish Pabrai taught me about focus
I just watched a podcast with Mohnish Pabrai and finally found someone who resonates with what I’ve been saying for years: “Entrepreneurs never take risks…
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20 August 2024 · 2 min read
We started production the lean way
We began our electric vehicle production using a lean approach. Fifteen months ago, one of my denting technicians came into my small office in our 10,000 sq…
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1 August 2024 · 2 min read · translated
From design to production: the ReVolt story
We started designing the ReVolt in November 2023. The prototype launched in July. Production launched 15 days after the prototype. Let me share the story…
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13 June 2024 · 2 min read
A historic moment for Bangladesh
A historic moment for Bangladesh! Take the first look at an electric vehicle fully designed and made in Bangladesh! When I was studying in the USA, people…
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29 May 2024 · 2 min read
When the minister tried to ban electric three-wheelers
A few days ago, our honorable minister attempted to ban the 4 million electric three-wheelers operating in Bangladesh. I understand the reasons behind this…
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17 April 2024 · 2 min read
ReVolt: a light electric pickup, made in Bangladesh
ReVolt: A Story of a Light Electric Utility Vehicle Designed and Made in Bangladesh The name ReVolt came from the word revolt. It literally means revolt…
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12 March 2024 · 1 min read
Is Bangladesh's grid ready for electric cars?
Electric Vehicle Readiness in Bangladesh: Power Consumption and Demand Demand Analysis: According to data from the BRTA, 26,000 personal vehicles were sold…
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14 November 2023 · 2 min read
ReVolt is almost ready
The ReVolt (Mini-Covered van) is almost ready. It's fully designed and made right here in Bangladesh! Recognizing the challenges that startups commonly face…
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20 June 2023 · 2 min read
The future of EVs and LFP batteries in Bangladesh
What is the actual future of the EV and LFP battery market in Bangladesh? Luxury EVs cost a lot. If a person in Bangladesh can afford that much money and…
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14 June 2023 · 3 min read · translated
My big brother
Let me tell a small story — the story of my big brother, Mostafa Al Mahmud. I was in intermediate college then. It was 2007. I was studying at home. My big…
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2 April 2023 · 2 min read
Moving from Jira to ClickUp
We recently moved from JIRA to Clickup for task management. Their workload view is simply awesome. It allows me to see how my team members are occupied at a…
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26 December 2022 · 2 min read
The first time GMV crossed $100k
First time in my life, GMV crossed $100k! I have been doing startups since 2017. I've worked on multiple ideas and failed numerous times. The idea was all…
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19 November 2022 · 2 min read
I'm a self-taught digital marketer
I'm a self-taught digital marketer! I got my own style. I show it raw. I share my own story, my struggle. My team's struggle and success! I make it personal…
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10 November 2022 · 1 min read · translated
A letter to Bangladesh
I designed the company proposal. It took a long time. I wrote the executive message from my heart. I believe Bangladesh is a land of endless possibility. The…
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30 September 2022 · 1 min read
Making the dashboard ourselves
Making the dashboard locally. Since they can work on fiber, carbon fiber is just a few $$ away from them! This post is about what is possible in the…
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21 September 2022 · 1 min read
The emails that proved people wanted this
An Email conversation with a customer on point. Got more than 350 emails like this. Gotta reply. Rollercoaster ride! Dear CEO, Assalamu Alaikum. Thanks for…
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19 September 2022 · 2 min read · translated
Is an electric car really green if the power comes from gas?
Let me give a big answer to a small question. Question: Electricity is made from oil, gas and coal. So if I charge an electric car with that electricity, how…
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16 September 2022 · 2 min read
My dream team
My dream team for my EV company is based on the people I have worked with. This post recognizes that working with you was a privilege and that you guys were…
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20 August 2022 · 1 min read · translated
What I really get out of this
For some reason everything goes the same way. At my earlier startup I wanted people to earn money with an app. And now I want people to earn money with an…
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5 August 2022 · 1 min read · translated
What it really costs to drive, per kilometre
Because fuel prices went up, the per-kilometre cost of fossil-fuel cars will rise. Even though, with an ecosystem of electric cars and renewable energy, the…
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4 August 2022 · 1 min read
We start taking pre-orders
A few days back, I posted on LinkedIn that we will start taking pre-orders for Palki Motors Limited from September 2022. The objective was to see the…