ACI Motors on track for Guinness World Record with handover of 350 Sonalika tractors in one day

 Rony Islam, a first-year student at Kaliganj Technical College in Debiganj, Panchagarh, had been helping his father operate a power tiller for years. Determined to stay updated with modern agricultural technology, he bought a Sonalika tractor. Accompanied by his father, Hazrat Ali, he travelled to the trade fair ground beside the Gor-e-Shaheed central Eidgah in Dinajpur to take part in what could become a Guinness World Record event. 

Beaming with excitement, Rony said the new tractor gives him and his father fresh dreams — to harvest golden crops from their fields. Hazrat Ali added that apart from cultivating their own 12 bighas, they could now work on other farms too. "Traditional ploughing is long gone, life has changed. To enter modern life and modern agriculture, there's no alternative to mechanisation. This is our future," he said.

Their story mirrors that of at least 350 other farmers and entrepreneurs from across the country who gathered in Dinajpur to receive their new Sonalika tractors — marking a historic moment for Bangladesh's agricultural mechanisation. According to organiser ACI Motors Ltd, the handover of such a large number of tractors in a single day was part of an initiative to set a Guinness World Record. The defining moment came around 1pm, when the farmers, seated on their tractors, waved ACI Motors flags to celebrate a new milestone in the country's agricultural history.

The event was presided over by ACI Motors Deputy Managing Director Subrata Ranjan Das. Gaurav Saxena, director and chief executive officer of International Tractors Limited, attended as chief guest. Among others who spoke were ACI Motors Chief Business Officer Md Asif Uddin and Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam.

According to organisers, ACI Motors has played a major role in mechanising Bangladesh's agriculture during its 18-year partnership with Sonalika. The company currently commands over 50% of the country's tractor market. The Dinajpur event was meant both to celebrate this success and to inspire new momentum in the nation's farming sector.

Though agriculture is often described as the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, enthusiasm and investment in the sector remain limited. ACI Motors views it as part of its responsibility to encourage and support farmers, company officials said. They added that showcasing Bangladesh's agricultural progress on the global stage — and highlighting its world-class farmers — was one of the main goals behind this Guinness Record attempt.

One of the participants, Md Dolowar Hossain from Parbatipur, Dinajpur, who has been using tractors for ploughing since 2015, said he was persuaded by ACI's facilities and later confirmed Sonalika's strong performance record.

Users and company officials described Sonalika as the country's leading tractor brand, known for fuel efficiency and excellent customer service. Any mechanical issue is addressed within six hours through on-site support. The tractors also retain higher resale value and come with durable, easily available original parts.

To better assist farmers and entrepreneurs, ACI Motors has launched the Sonalika Samriddhi mobile app, allowing users to request technical assistance directly from the app. Technicians are dispatched to resolve issues on-site, and the service remains free for at least five years, said Md Shamim Hossain, Senior General Manager of ACI Motors.

Entrepreneurs agreed that a Sonalika tractor can plough 12–15 acres a day using just 4–5.5 litres of fuel.

Abul Khalek, a farmer from Ruhia in Thakurgaon, said he uses his tractor mainly for two cropping seasons — about four months a year. The rest of the time, he attaches an alternate body to transport maize, paddy, soil, and bricks. "Because the engine is so reliable, demand keeps growing," he said, adding that easy instalment facilities make the tractor more accessible — one of the reasons it's part of a world record attempt.

Speaking at the event, ACI Motors Chief Business Officer Md Asif Uddin said, "Delivering so many tractors from one field in a single day is not just a business milestone — it's a symbol of the agricultural mechanisation revolution. Behind this success lie our farmers' sweat, soil, hard work, and love. It's time to turn that effort and potential into the power of technology. Today, we're making history."

International Tractors Limited CEO Gaurav Saxena said, "In our first year with ACI, we sold 300 Sonalika tractors in Bangladesh. Today, we're on the verge of a world record, delivering 350 tractors in a single day. This success comes from customer satisfaction. Best wishes to the ACI team."

Subrata Ranjan Das, ACI Motors deputy general manager, said, "Every nation is just a piece of land — it doesn't travel. But its people do, and so do its stories. Through agricultural mechanisation, we wanted to brand Bangladesh positively to the world — to show that our farmers are world-class. Those who received tractors today have become part of a global event."

A recorded message from Carl Saville, adjudicator for Guinness World Records Limited, was played during the programme. He said the event aimed to set a record for the highest number of tractors delivered in a single day. "If you're here to watch, enjoy the event," he said. "And if you're participating, make sure all the guidelines are followed — or the record may be disqualified."