TIB urges Muhith not to import SUV duty-free

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) urged former finance minister AMA Muhith not to take the facility of importing a duty-free luxury car which has already been approved by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

This facility is provided to the serving members of parliament (MPs) and Muhith did not take the benefit while he served as the finance minister for two consecutive terms till 2018, said Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB.

The former finance minister should not take the benefit for which he is not entitled at present, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said adding that if he takes the duty-free vehicle now, it would become questionable.

He should establish an example of morality by rejecting the duty-free luxury vehicle, the TIB’s executive director said.

Such action might encourage others in future and this might become a trend among the MPs and the former minister should refrain from it as the countrymen do not expect such action from him, he added.

NBR sources earlier said that Muhith opened a letter of credit to import a land cruiser near the end of his tenure as a lawmaker in the 10th parliament.

The vehicle arrived at the Chattogram port after the dissolution of the 10th parliament and expiry of his parliament membership.

The NBR said it took into account overall circumstances to extend the benefit as Muhith did not avail the opportunity during the initial days of the last parliament. He completed all the formalities in the last days when he was an MP and the car has arrived late.

As he would be unable to release the SUV duty-free without permission, the NBR has granted the benefit, NBR Chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan earlier told The Daily Star.

The NBR, in its special order issued on August 19 regarding the import of the duty-free car by Muhith, said it received a recommendation from the Jatiya Sangsad secretariat through the Internal Resources Division.