The MPs of the now-dissolved eighth parliament dodged taxes of around Tk 250 crore in the last five years by importing cars under this privilege and then selling them out to others. Except for a few high-profile ex-MPs, most imported very costly cars.

The NBR has recently sent a proposal to the finance ministry to withdraw this privilege, sources said, adding that it is also investigating who purchased these cars imported by the ex-MPs.

The law under which the cars were imported bars the MPs from selling them within a certain period of time from the purchase.

The NBR will examine if the buyers purchased the vehicles in accordance with the legal provisions and take action against those who violated the law.

The caretaker government's recent drive against corruption has compelled many such buyers to abandon their expensive cars in the city streets without any documents.

These luxurious cars and sport utility vehicles (SUV) purchased by the former MPs belong to prestigious brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW, Hummer, and Porsche.

According to information received in 2006, 54 of the 275 cars imported by MPs were BMWs, the cost of which is upwards of Tk 20 lakh to Tk 84 lakh without tax.

The MPs also imported 40 Mercedes Benz cars (priced between Tk 25 lakh and Tk 1 crore 18 lakh) and SUVs (priced between Tk 51 lakh and Tk 73 lakh).

Besides, 10 Porsches priced between Tk 26 lakh and Tk 3 crore, Lexus cars and SUVs priced between Tk 18 lakh and Tk 47 lakh, 16 Land Rovers priced between Tk 46 lakh and Tk 54 lakh, four Hummers priced between Tk 20 lakh and Tk 91 lakh, and four Cadillacs priced between Tk 20 lakh and Tk 49 lakh were imported by the ex-MPs.

Other cars include 42 Toyota Land Cruisers priced at Tk 35 lakh each, three Lincoln SUVs priced between Tk 20 lakh and Tk 50 lakh, three Nissan 56 Infiniti cars priced between Tk 20 lakh and Tk 40 lakh, 15 Nissan Patrol SUVs and two Nissan Pathfinders priced between Tk 16 lakh and Tk 31 lakh, 37 Mitsubishi Pajero V-6 SUVs priced between Tk 12 lakh and Tk 25 lakh, two Toyota SUVs, and one Toyota Corolla.

The MPs were provided with the privilege to import duty-free cars on May 24, 1988 during HM Ershad's rule. The provision was later amended on August 28, 2002, with retrospective effect from July 1 the same year.

According to the amendment, an MP can import cars and SUVs without paying value-added tax or supplementary duty as soon as they are elected. But they cannot purchase more than two cars under this facility and cannot sell the car within three years of purchase. If elected twice, they can purchase another car under the same facility after eight years.

The law was further amended on August 22, 2005, which stated that an MP will only be able to purchase a car after two years of being elected. This amendment, in effect, barred woman MPs selected under extended quota in 2005 from importing duty-free cars.

The amendment further added that an MP can purchase cars for the second time after seven years of being first elected and that they cannot sell a car within four years of purchase.

The engine size of the duty-free cars was also set at 1650cc and SUVs at 3000cc.

Parliamentarians got involved in selling the permits for cars under the duty-free privilege during the first BNP rule, and during the last BNP-led coalition government each permit for duty-free cars was sold for as high as Tk 25 lakh.

A number of companies who sell luxury cars in Bangladesh became involved in buying out the permits, with four luxury car distributors' cartel buying out the permits from 200 MPs.

Sources said the companies then sold the cars with an added value of Tk 20 lakh to local businessmen.

The NBR has fixed car duty in accordance with engine sizes (cc), with 101 percent tax for cars up to 1649cc, 144.18 percent for cars between 1650cc and 3000cc, and 194.55 percent for cars above 3000cc.

MPs who purchased BMW vehicles:
Mohammad Ali (Noakhali-6), Md Abdul Karim Abbasi (Netrokona-1), Nazir Hossain (Sunamganj-1), Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (Sirajganj-2), late Shamsuddin Ahmed Ishak (Narsingdi), Syed Manzur Hossain (Nawabganj-2), MA Matin (Chandpur-5), Md Shahjahan Mia (Nawabganj-1), Advocate Abul Kalam (Naraynganj-5), Lt Gen (retd) Mahmudul Hasan (Tangail-5), Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox's Bazar-4), Md Abdul Gani (Meherpur-2), Mosharraf Hossain Mangu (Barishal-3), Md Azizur Rahman Chowdhury (Dinajpur-6), Mufti Maulana Abdus Sattar Akhand (Bagerhat-4), Engineer LK Siddiqui (Chittagong-2), Matiar Rahman Talukder (Barguna-3), Md Mazahar Hossain (Panchagar-2), Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury (Chittagong-8), Mosharraf Hossain Shahjahan (Bhola-1), Dr Dewan Md Salauddin (Dhaka-12), AKM Mosharraf Hossain (Mymensingh-5), Zafrul Islam Chowdhury (Chittagong-15), Gazi Md Shahjahan (Chittagong-11), Golam Md Kader (Rangpur-3), Mani Swapan Dewan (Rangamati), Md Lutfur Rahman (Gaibandha-2), Md Motahar Hossain (Lalmonirhat-1), Md Ali Sarkar (Rangpur-2), Abdul Khaleque (Brahmanbaria-6), Abul Hossain Khan (Barisal-6), Md Ali Asgar Lobi (Khulna-2), Abul Khayer Bhuiyan (Lakshmipur-2), Md Shahiduzzaman (Cox's Bazar-3), Col (retd) M Anwarul Azim (Comilla-10), Khadiza Amin (Netrokona-3), Amzad Hossain Sarkar (Nilphamari-4), Md Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan (Comilla-11), MAH Selim (Bagerhat-2), Khairul Kabir Khokan (Narsingdi-1), Kazi Rafiqul Islam (Bogra-1), Zakaria Taher (Comilla-7), Md Giasuddin (Narayanganj-3), Suranjit Sengupta (Sunamganj-2), Md Abdus Shahid (Moulvibazar-4), Md Mostafizur Rahman (Dinajpur-5), late Abdus Samad Azad (Sunamganj-3), Md Nasim (Sirajganj-1), Dewan Farid Gazi (Habiganj-1), Md Rezaul Karim Hira (Jamalpur-5), Bir Bahadur (Bandarban), Panchanan Biswas (Khulna-1), Nure Alam Chowdhury Liton (Madaripur-1) and Jatiya Party's Anwar Hossain Manju.

MPs who imported Mercedes Benz vehicles:
Mujibur Rahman Fakir (Mymensingh-3), Sheikh Hasina (Gopalganj-3), Sultan Mahmud Babu (Jamalpur-2), Dr Syed Maqbul Hossain (Sylhet-6), Md Mozammel Haq (Sirajganj-5), M Nurul Islam (Khulna-4), Mia Golam Parwar (Khulna-5), AKM Selim Reza Habib (Pabna-2), Kader Siddiqui (Tangail-8), Dr Hamida Banu Shobha (Nilphamari-1), Masud Arun (Meherpur-1), Md Alu Kadar (Jessore-1), Shamsuddin Ahmed (Manikganj-2), Md Abdul Jalil (Naogaon-5), Major (retd) Sayeed Eskandar (Feni-1), Md Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola-2), ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury (Chittagong-6), Asadul Habib Dulu (Lalmonirhat-3), Md Zahid Ahsan Russel (Gazipur-2), Shahinoor Pasha Chowdhury (Sunamganj-3), Major (retd) Abdul Mannan (Dhaka-10), Enamul Haq (Habiganj-4), Md Anwar Hossain (Brahmanbaria-5), Golam Md Siraj (Bogra-5), AKM Abu Taher (Comilla-7), Kabir Hossain (Rajshahi-5), Dhirendra Nath Saha (Narail-1), Md Dabirul Islam (Thakurgaon-2), Md Manirul Haq Chowdhury (Comilla-9), Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury (Gaibandha-3), Haji Md Mozammel Haq (Chuadanga-2), Md Fazlul Haq Aspia (Sunamganj-4), late Altaf Hossain Golondaz (Mymensingh-10), Syed Abul Hossain (Madaripur-3), Dr Sirajul Akbar (Magura-1), M Morshed Khan (Chittagong-10), M Amanullah (Mymensingh-11), Tariqul Islam (Jessore-3), Abdul Hai (Munshiganj-4), and Nazimuddin Alam (Bhola-4).

MPs who imported Porsche vehicles:
Mahmudul Haq Rubel (Sherpur-3), Zahed Ali Chowdhury (Sherpur-3), Abdul Motalib Akhand (Gaibandha-4), Abu Hena (Rajshahi-3), Shamsur Rahman Sharif (Pabna-4), Rawshan Ershad (Gaibandha-5), Atiur Rahman Atik (Sheripur-1), Syed Ashraful Islam (Kishoreganj-3), Abu Lais Mobin Chowdhury (Habiganj-3), and Mossaddak Ali Falu (Dhaka-10).

MPs who imported Land Rover or Range Rover SUVs:
Abdul Hamid (Kishoreganj-5), Syed Wahidul Alam (Chittagong-5), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Chittagong-1), Harun-al-Rashid (Brahmanbaria-30) Alamgir Kabir (Naogaon-6), Syed Shahidul Haq Jamal (Barisal-Pirojpur), Rustam Ali Farazi (Pirojpur-3), M Nasser Rahman (Moulvibazar-3), Ekabbar Hossain (Tangail-7), Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury (Sylhet-3), Shamsul Alam Pramanik (Naogaon-4), Shahjahan Khan (Madaripur-2), Shahidul Islam (Jhenidah-3), Major Gen (retd) Mahmudul Hasan (Tangail-5), Mizanur Rahman Sinha (Munshiganj-2), and Manzurul Ahsan Munshi (Comilla-4).

MPs who imported Lexus vehicles:
Shahidul Islam Talukder (Patuakhali-2), Zahiruddin Swapan (Barisal-1), Mizanur Rahman Minu (Rajshahi-2), Ali Newaz Mahmud Khoiyam (Rajbari-1), Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne (Lakshmipur-3), Reza Ahmed Bacchu (Kushtia-1), Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed (Dhaka-9), Redwan Ahmed (Comilla-6), Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2), Talukder Abdul Khalek (Bagerhat-3), Sarwar Jamal Nizam (Chittagong-12), Sadek Hossain Khoka (Dhaka-7), Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad (Comilla-3), Md Salek Chowdhury (Naogaon-1), Md Shamsuzzaman Khan (Naogaon-2), Alamgir Md Mahfuzzullah Farid (Cox's Bazar-2), Fazlur Rahman Patal (Natore-1), Md Zillur Rahman (Kishoreganj-7), Shahidul Islam (Kushtia-1), Nur Muhammad Mandal (Rangpur-6), Lutfuzzaman Babar (Netrokona-4), and Mohammad Ali (Mymensingh-Netrakona).

MPs who imported Cadillac vehicles:
Md Shahjahan (Noakhali-4), MA Hashem (Noakhali-2), Shah Md Solaiman Alam (Rangpur-5), and Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi (Kushtia-4).

MPs who imported Lincoln Navigator SUVs:
Salahuddin Ahmed (Dhaka-4), Abdus Salam Pintu (Tangail-2), and Shamsul Alam Pramanik (Naogaon-4).

MPs who imported Hummer H2 SUVs:
Israt Sultana (also known as Elaine Bhutto) (Jhalkathi-2), Abdur Razzak (Tangail-1), Abdul Alim (Jaypurhat-1), and Harunur Rashid Harun (Nawabganj-3).

MPs who imported Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs:
Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia (Dinajpur-4), Md Matiur Rahman (Dinajpur-3), Abdul Matin Sarkar (Mymensingh-7), Md Nasirul Haq Sabu (Rajabari-2), Md Abdul Hai (Jhenidah-1), SA Sultan (Chandpur-4), Dildar Hossain Selim (Sylhet-4), Altaf Hossain Chowdhury (Patuakhali-1), Shah Nurul Kabir (Mymensingh-8), Md Sohrabuddin (Kushtia-3), ASHK Sadek (Jessore-6), Abdul Aziz (Gaibandha-1), Md Mahbubur Rahman (Patuakhali-4), Md Golam Habib Dulal (Kurigram-4), Md Habibul Islam Habib (Satkhira-1), Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu (Dhaka-8), M Osman Farruk (Kishoreganj-4), Mufti Md Wakkas (Jessore-5), MA Matin (Sirajganj-7), M Nurul Islam Mani (Barguna-2), Harunur Rashid Khan Munnu (Manikganj-3), Mirza Azam (Jamalpur-3), SA Khaleque (Dhaka-11), Khandaker Delwar Hossain (Manikganj-1), AKM Jahangir Hossain (Patuakhali-3), M Karimuddin Bharasa (Rangpur-4), Amanullah Aman (Dhaka-3), Hafizuddin Ahmed (Thakurgaon-3), Abdur Razzak (Shariatpur-3), Ataur Rahman Khan (Narayanganj-2), Ziaur Rahman Khan (Dhaka-13), Abdus Subhan (Pabna-5), Matiur Rahman Nizami (Pabna-1), M Saifur Rahman (Sylhet-1), M Akbar Ali (Sirajganj-4), Rafiqul Anwar (Chittagong-4), Delwar Hossain Saidee (Pirojpur-1), Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul (Narsingdi-4), Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu (Natore-2), M Obaidur Rahman (Faridpur-2), Jaynal Abedin (Feni-2), and Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf (Faridpur-3).

MPs who imported Mitsubishi Pajero SUVs:
Abdul Mannan Talukder (Sirajganj-3), Shawkat Ali (Shariatpur-2), Abu Yusuf Khalilur Rahman (Jaypurhat-2), Tajul Islam Chowdhury (Kurigram-2), Kalimuddin Ahmed (Sunamganj-5), Promod Mankin (Mymensingh-1), Jaynal Abedin Faruk (Noakhali-1), MK Anwar (Comilla-1), Rahmat Ali (Gazipur-1), Ahsanul Haq Mollah (Kushtia-1), Ziaul Haq Mollah (Bogra-4), Rezaul Karim (Narayanganj-3), Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury (Moulvibazar-1), Mujibur Rahman Sarwar (Barisal-5), Md Yunus (Comilla-5), Alamgir Haider Khan (Chandpur-6), Hafizuddin Ahmed (Bhola-3), Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain (Comilla-2), Kazi Jafarullah (Faridpur-5), Nazmul Hasan Zahed (Habiganj-2), Masiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), AKM Fazlul Haq (Gazipur-3), MA Mannan (Kishoreganj-2), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (Thakurgaon-1), Md Abdullah R Kafi (Dinajpur-1), MM Shahin (Moulvibazar-2), Md Delwar Hossain (Barguna-1), Abu Syed Md Shahadat Hussain (Jessore-2), Shamsuddin Ahmed (Mymensingh-6), Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj (Gazipur-4), MM Aminuddin (Jessore-4), Rezaul Bari Dina (Bogra-2), Chowdhury Akmal Ibne Yusuf (Faridpur-4), Asaduzzaman Noor (Nilphamari-2), Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal (Barisal-2), Md Mozammel Haq (Natore-4), and Mushfiqur Rahman (Brahmanbaria-4).

MPs who imported Nissan Patrol SUVs:
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury (Chittagong-7), Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui (Naogaon-3), Mahi Badruddoza Chowdhury (Munshiganj-1), M Rashiduzzaman Millat (Jamalpur-1), Mostafa Kamal Pasha (Chittagong-3), Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu (Mymensingh-4), Shah Shahid Sarwar (Mymensingh-2), Kazi Golam Morshed (Natore-3), Major (retd) Qamrul Islam (Dhaka-5), Shahjahan Siraj (Tangail-4), Shahjahan Omar (Jhalkathi-1), Md Mujibur Rahman (Lalmanirhat-2), Moudud Ahmed (Noakhali-5), Sheikh Helaluddin (Bagerhat-1), and Hemayetullah Aurang (Shariatpur-1).

MPs who imported Infinity SUVs:
Ashraf Hossain (Khulna-3), Md Sayedul Haq (Brahmanbaria-1), and Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (Nilphamari-3).

MPs who imported Nissan Pathfinder SUVs:
AKM Mostafizur Rahman (Kurigram-1), and Shah Md Abul Hossain (Barisal-4).

MPs who imported Toyota SUVs:
Anwarul Kabir Talukder (Jamalpur-4) and Mashiur Rahman (Jhenidah-2).

MPs who imported Toyota Corolla:
Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar (Panchagar-1) and Gazi Nazrul Islam (Satkhira-5).