The first ever automobile Lccpu F-21 designed by a Bangladeshi was launched in Dhanmondi in the capital yesterday.

Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu, the-designer, formally switched on the ignition of the car at his Jlkatola homc-cum-workshop around 1:00pm.

He said the design of the car is unique and not a replica or lookalike of any expensive brands. Unlike his earlier work, the Leepu F-21 resembles no vehicles on the road today.

The jet-black car raised a lot of eyebrows on Manik Mia Avenue when it was taken there for a press demonstration yesterday afternoon.

Leepu said he named the car after himself followed by F-21, which stands for February 21 -- Amar

Ekushey and International Mother Language Day.

He plans to take 'Leepu Leniza', his brand name, on small-scale production. "Cars produced in cottage industries are quite common in some countries. I'd like to do something like that in Bangladesh," he said.

"I have received a lot of media coverage and am getting work offers because of that as well. But nobody seems to be willing to invest in a small automobile cottage industry," he added.

Sayed M Tanvir, director of Pacific Jeans Ltd, had asked Leepu to manufacture the car for him.

Replying to a question on why he had chosen Leepu, Tanvir said, "I heard a lot about him when I was in England. I wanted to get something from my home country."

Leepu took almost a year to manufacture the Tk 15.5 lakh car. The F-21 has a 77 Toyota Celica chassis, which was bought at only Tk 50,000, and a Toyota Townace 1.8 litre engine.