'Special vehicle' for Tarique Rahman arrives in Bangladesh
The government collected Tk23,116,942 in customs duty, VAT, and other taxes. As a result, the total cost of the vehicle came to Tk27,646,112
A specially equipped SUV purchased for BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has arrived in Bangladesh.
Bite-Sized: What's inside the special Prado imported for Tarique Rahman?
The vehicle has already been registered under the party's name by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and received fitness approval.
According to BRTA sources, the registration and fitness approval for the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado LC 250 SUV — a hardtop model — was granted on Tuesday.
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The SUV, manufactured this year in Japan, was imported from Velos Automotive Exporting LLC in the United Arab Emirates by Asian Imports Limited, a vehicle importer based in Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka.
A source confirmed that the SUV reached the country from the UAE through 'Ma Associates' in Chattogram on 1 November.
In mid-November, TBS visited the showroom of Asian Imports Limited on Tejgaon Gulshan Link Road and saw the vehicle, though staff did not allow photographs or comment on who would use it.
BRTA registration records show the SUV is registered under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the party office at 28/1 Nayapaltan listed as its address.
Its registration number is Dhaka Metro-Gha 16-6528.
The Bill of Entry reviewed by The Business Standard confirms that the white, seven-seater SUV has a 2,800cc engine, a kerb weight of 2,790 kg, and a gross weight of 3,085 kg.
The bill of entry states that the vehicle was purchased for $37,000.
Using an exchange rate of Tk122.41 per dollar, the National Board of Revenue calculated the customs duties and taxes, making the price of the car Tk45,29,170.
However, customs assessed the car's value at $41,000.
The government collected Tk23,116,942 in customs duty, VAT, and other taxes. As a result, the total cost of the vehicle came to Tk27,646,112.
On the day of registration, BRTA also approved the SUV's fitness, certified by Motor Vehicle Inspector Sabikun Nahar of Dhaka Metro-1 Circle.
The fitness approval is valid until December 2029.
The annual tax token was issued for one year, expiring on 1 December next year.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the BNP to purchase two bulletproof vehicles for the election security of Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman – one in June and another in October.
It remains unclear whether this newly arrived car for Tarique is bulletproof.
Standard vs Armoured
A standard Toyota Land Cruiser Prado LC250 is not bulletproof. It only gains ballistic protection when it is specially armoured by a third-party company.
Armoured versions undergo extensive modifications, including reinforced steel plating, bullet-resistant glass, and strengthened structural components throughout the doors, roof, and underbody – features that are added through custom work rather than provided by Toyota.
In its standard form, the Prado LC250, regardless of colour, comes with safety features such as Toyota Safety Sense but is not designed to withstand ballistic threats.
To reach that level of protection, the vehicle must be sent to a specialised armouring company such as INKAS or Alpine Armoring, where it is converted from a regular SUV into a fully protected vehicle equipped with ballistic steel, multi-layered bullet-resistant glass, reinforced structural elements, and run-flat tires.
INKAS Armored Vehicles UAE is one such licensed manufacturer operating in the Emirates. The company supplies armoured vehicles to embassies, militaries, NGOs, UN agencies, security firms, and VIP clients worldwide, providing protection in high-risk environments and conflict-prone areas.
It offers a wide range of armouring services for luxury and civilian vehicles, including ballistic glass installation, armoured door overlaps, and other protective enhancements to ensure occupant safety.
