NBR plans new strategy for selling luxury cars imported by former AL MPs
NBR chairman says new approach aims to ensure that the vehicles are not sold at throwaway prices
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is considering alternative measures for selling luxury cars imported duty-free by members of parliament (MPs) under the previous Awami League government, following an unsuccessful attempt to auction them earlier this year.
NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan disclosed the plans during a meeting with customs officials and stakeholders at the Chattogram Custom House today (25 July).
He said the new approach aims to ensure that the vehicles are not sold at throwaway prices.
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"We had previously put the cars up for auction but did not get the expected response. The highest bids ranged between Tk1 lakh and Tk3.1 crore per car — far below market value. We don't want to sell these vehicles at low prices," the NBR chairman told journalists.
He added, "Each of these cars costs around Tk8 to Tk9 crore. If we can't secure a fair price through auction, we are exploring alternative options. Several government agencies have proposed to purchase the vehicles at 60% of their actual value. If necessary, we'll consult higher government authorities to determine the best way to utilise these assets. Scrapping them is not an option I support. A final decision will be made soon."
The auction, held last February, included 24 of the 42 imported vehicles. However, due to the unusually low bids, Chattogram Customs decided not to award any of them.
These luxury cars were imported under duty-free privileges by MPs of the former Awami League government. Following the party's fall from power amid a student-led movement on 5 August last year, the MPs were unable to get their cars released from customs.
This issue is not isolated. Bureaucratic complexities at customs have led to the scrapping of many high-value vehicles over the years. A recent report by The Business Standard, published on 5 July and titled "Customs bureaucracy: Luxury cars rot at Ctg port", highlighted various irregularities in the auction process, including the long delays and mismanagement regarding the ex-MPs' cars.
Due to the lack of proper handling, 74 vehicles — including luxury cars, trucks, and dump trucks — lying at the port for over 30 years were sold as scrap metal. Customs received just Tk42.8 lakh from selling 147.68 tonnes of scrap, despite the estimated value of the vehicles being around Tk70 crore.
Similarly, 112 luxury vehicles imported under the carnet facility were also sold at significantly lower prices.
Addressing questions about broader port management, the NBR chairman said that the board has taken initiatives to reduce port congestion by auctioning off containers that have been left unattended for extended periods.
"An auction has already been organised. The first round of bids will go to the highest bidders without delay. We're taking this step to avoid wasting time," he said.
Addressing issues related to port auctions, Abdur said 100 officers have been assigned to catalog auctionable goods. If needed, public announcements will be made in Chattogram city to promote the auctions.
