The Chattogram Customs House authorities on Monday announced the auction of 44 vehicles, including 24 luxury cars imported under a duty-free privilege for lawmakers during the ousted Awami League regime.
The auction is scheduled for February 16 and potential bidders will be allowed to inspect the vehicles between February 2 and February 4.
Of the 44 vehicles, 26 are Toyota Land Cruisers, five Toyota Harriers, two Toyota RAV4s, one Toyota Esquire, and 10 are heavy-duty Sino dump trucks.
Among the vehicles, 24 Japanese-made Toyota Land Cruisers are brand new and were imported under duty-free privileges by former lawmakers.
The reserve price for each of the 24 Japanese-made brand-new Land Cruisers has been set at Tk 9.67 crore.
The reserve price for each of the two vehicles that had been abandoned at the Chattogram port for an extended period has been set at Tk 1.62 crore and Tk 1.37 crore, respectively.
The remaining 18 vehicles, including other models, have reserve prices ranging between Tk 30.38 lakh and Tk 85.67 lakh.
Chattagram Custom House revenue officer Bijon Kumar Talukder said, 鈥楾he e-auction catalog has been published on the customs鈥� website. Interested bidders can submit their offers online between 9:00am on January 27 and 2:00pm on February 16. The tender box will be opened at 2:00pm on February 17 to finalise the bids.鈥�
Among the importers of the luxury vehicles stranded at the port are former lawmakers Mohiuddin Maharaj for Pirojpur-2, ABM Anisuzzaman for Mymensingh-7, Mohammad Mojibur Rahman for Bogura-5, Jannat Ara Henry for Sirajganj-2, Ranjit Chandra Sarkar for Sunamganj-1, Sajjadul Hasan for Netrakona-4, Shah Sarwar Kabir for Gaibandha-2, SAK Ekramuzzaman for Brahmanbaria-1, SM Al Mamun for Chattogram-4, SM Kamal Hossain for Khulna-3, Mujibur Rahman for Chattogram-16, Sourendra Nath Chakraborty for Naogaon-3, Tarana Halim for Reserved Seat-13, Md Nasser Shahrear Zahedee for Jhenaidah-2, Abul Kalam Azad for Jamalpur-5, Muhammad Siddiq for Sunamganj-4, Abdul Motaleb for Chattogram-15, Shammi Ahmed for Reserved Seat-14, Abdul Wahed for Mymensingh-11, Runu Reza for Reserved Seat-12, Md Towhiduz Zaman for Jashore-2, Anupam Shahjahan Joy for Tangail-8, Saddam Hossain Pavel for Nilphamari-3 and Farida Yasmin for Reserved Seat-35.
The parliament was dissolved immediately after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024 and, as a result, the former lawmakers lost their duty-free privileges.
On August 21, the Chattogram Customs House sought suggestions from the National Board of Revenue regarding the vehicles.
On December 8, the NBR directed the Chattogram Customs House that the vehicles could be cleared upon payment of applicable duties and set a 15-day deadline for compliance.
As the deadline ended without any progress, the authorities decided to sell the vehicles in an auction.
