Mitsubishi jeep seized in Dhaka

Customs Intelligence officials yesterday seized a luxury Mitsubishi jeep worth around Tk 1 crore from the capital’s Uttara area, which was imported by a high official of an international organization and illegally handed over to another person.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of customs intelligence officials conducted a drive in the house of one Ashikul Hasib Tarik at Uttara and seized the car yesterday.

The “owners” could not produce any valid documents of the vehicle to prove their ownership and primarily admitted that it was imported through zero-duty import privilege, said Moinul Khan, director general of Customs Intelligence.

They have purchased the car from a privileged person, he added quoting Ashikul’s wife.

Legal steps will be taken against them as per Tax Law 1969.

“A former official of an international organisation brought the car in Dhaka and handed over them without approval from the concerned authority. He abused the zero-duty privilege and breached tax law,” Moinul claimed.

Moinul also said any car imported under the facility could not be handed over before eight years as per the law.

The owner should take prior approval of National Board of Revenue and pay the due tax before handover of such cars after the period. But this prcedure was not followed in case of the seized car, he added.

“Legal actions will be taken against him after contacting the incumbent official of the organisation,” the DG added.

The car was found to be bearing a yellow number plate which is entitled to only the privileged persons.

The officials so far seized 36 such cars plying in the country illegally and were imported dodging taxes.