Chattogram Customs auctions 44 cars, including 24 bought by ex-AL MPs
According to the Chattogram Customs House, the reserve price for each of the 24 Japanese-made Land Cruiser ZX vehicles has been set at Tk 9,67,03,899, amounting to a total reserve value of approximately Tk232.09 crore.
The Chattogram Customs House authorities have launched an online auction of 44 vehicles, including 24 luxurious Land Cruiser ZX cars imported by former members of parliament (MPs) of the Awami League government under duty-free privileges.
The auction process began on 27 January and will remain open to bidders until 16 February.
According to the Chattogram Customs House, the reserve price for each of the 24 Japanese-made Land Cruiser ZX vehicles has been set at Tk 9,67,03,899, amounting to a total reserve value of approximately Tk232.09 crore.
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The remaining 20 vehicles, including other models, have reserve prices ranging from Tk30.38 lakh to Tk1.62 crore, with a total value of Tk16.21 crore. The combined reserve price for all 44 vehicles stands at Tk248.30 crore.
Among the 44 vehicles up for auction, besides the luxury cars brought by the former MPs, there are also 10 dump trucks, five Harriers, two Revofours, a Square, and two Land Cruisers imported in 2021.
Md Shakib Hossain, assistant commissioner of Chattogram Customs, said, "We have decided to auction 24 out of the 31 vehicles imported by former MPs under duty-free facilities. Interested bidders can inspect the vehicles on-site from 2 to 4 February. The remaining seven vehicles brought by MPs are still under processing and will be auctioned once the necessary procedures are completed."
The vehicles became subject to auction after their clearance was stalled following the end of the Awami League government on 5 August. On 21 August, Chattogram Customs sought guidance from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) regarding the clearance of these vehicles. In response, the NBR instructed that the cars could only be released if normal customs duties were paid. Importers were given a 15-day deadline to comply, which passed without action, leading to the decision to auction the vehicles.
Former AL MPs whose vehicles are currently held at the Chittagong Port include Mohiuddin Maharaj (Pirojpur-2), ABM Anisuzzaman (Mymensingh-7), Mohammad Mujibur Rahman (Bogura-5), Jinnat Ara Henry (Sirajganj-2), Ranjit Chandra Sarkar (Sunamganj-1), Sajjadul Hasan (Netrokona-4), Shah Sarwar Kabir (Gaibandha-2), SAK Ekramuzzaman (Brahmanbaria-1), SM Al Mamun (Chittagong-4, Sitakunda), SM Kamal Hossain (Khulna-3), Mujibur Rahman (Chittagong-16, Baanshkhali), Surendra Nath Chakraborty (Naogaon-3), Tarana Halim (Reserved Women's Seat-13), Naser Shahriar Zahedi (Jhenaidah-2), Abul Kalam Azad, Muhammad Siddique (Sunamganj-4), Abdul Motaleb (Chittagong-15), Shammi Ahmed (Reserved Women's Seat-14), Abdul Wahed (Mymensingh-11), Runa Reza (Reserved Women's Seat-12), Touhiduzzaman (Jessore-2), Anupam Shahjahan Joy (Tangail-8), Saddam Hossain Pavel (Nilphamari-3), Farida Yasmin (Reserved Women's Seat-35).
