(BSS)- National Board of Revenue (NBR) has asked Chattogram Customs House to handover 31 luxury vehicles imported duty-free for the members of the dissolved 12th Jatiya Sangsad to the Directorate of Government Transport.

NBR has issued a special order in this regard, officials today said.

The order asked for handing over the unclaimed luxury vehicles to the government transport department under the Ministry of Public Administration for official use in the public interest.

Earlier, the Chattogram Customs House had sought clarification from the NBR whether the duty-free import facilities remained applicable for the vehicles imported by members of the now-dissolved parliament.

In response, the NBR, through an instruction issued on December 8, 2024, clarified that such vehicles would not be eligible for duty-free clearance. Importers, however, could release their vehicles by paying regular customs duties and taxes.

According to the NBR, the total payable duties and taxes on the 31 imported vehicles are Taka 269.62 crore. Among them, the highest payable amount per vehicle stands at Taka 9.44 crore, while the lowest is Taka 8.63 crore.

As the importers failed to release those vehicles after paying the applicable duties and taxes, the Chattogram Customs House, as per law, placed those vehicles for auction.

However, no bidder offered a reasonable price during the auction process. Following an inter-ministerial decision, the vehicles—considered highly valuable—will now be used for government purposes rather than being sold.

The NBR order stated that if any of the original importers later wish to clear their vehicles, they may do so upon payment of all applicable customs duties and taxes.

In such case, the Chattogram Customs House will process for release of the respective vehicle in accordance with customs valuation laws, regulations, and directives.

The Directorate of Government Transport will return the respective vehicles to the customs authority for lawful clearance.