TDS Desk:

The customs department is withholding the release of 44 luxury cars- mostly Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Cruiser Prados- that were imported by former lawmakers under a duty-free scheme.

NBR data shows that the import price of these 51 vehicles is approximately Tk61 crore. Most of the vehicles were imported from Japan and Singapore and have 3,000cc to 4,000cc engines.

The cheapest Land Cruiser was imported for a little under Tk98 lakh. If the duty is to be paid, the vehicle would cost over Tk8.10 crore.

The release of these cars has been halted because the individuals who imported them are no longer members of parliament (MPs).

Before the Awami League government fell earlier this month, seven cars imported under the duty-free provision were released. However, these vehicles have not yet been registered with the Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA), reports a leading daily in Bangladesh.

Lawmakers are entitled to import a duty-free car once every five years. The tax on such vehicles can be up to 810 percent, but MPs do not have to pay it.

A day after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament on 6 August. As a result, the lawmakers lost their membership in parliament.

Chattogram Custom House Commissioner Mohammad Fyzur Rahman said, “The MPs get the tax-free cars to carry out parliamentary duties. We halted the clearance process of these cars because these will not be used for parliamentary duties.”

According to NBR documents, the seven cars that have been released from Chattogram, Mongla ports and Kamalapur ICD, were imported by cricket superstar Shakib Al Hasan, who was an MP from Magura-1; Faizur Rahman from Brahmanbaria-5; Golam Faruque Pinku from Lakshipur-3; Abul Kalam from Natore-1; Mujibur Rahman Manju from Kishoreganj-5; and Jannat Ara Henry, an MP of a reserved seat for women. The identity of one other ex-lawmaker has not been confirmed.