30 German cars to be bought for OIC meet

The government is going to purchase 30 Mercedes Benz or BMW cars at an estimated cost of Tk 24.26 crore without tax for the OIC meet to be held in Dhaka next year.

The Ministry of Public Administration has sent a proposal to the cabinet committee on economic affairs seeking duty waiver on the vehicles, insiders said.

According to the ministry proposal, the cost of each car including registration and import insurance stands at around Tk 80.89 lakh. If duty is imposed on these vehicles, their price will skyrocket by about 597 percent.

Foreign ministry officials said the 45th meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) will be held in Dhaka on May 4-5 next year and at least 220 cars will be required including 70 high quality vehicles for that purpose.

Besides, 10 coasters, five buses and an adequate number of microbuses will also be needed for the meet.

The foreign ministry said 40 high quality cars and 10 coasters would be collected from the friendly countries duty free as grant.

The public administration ministry said after the conference the vehicles would be used for invited VIP guests in various international conferences.

Of the cars, five would be given to the foreign ministry and the rest might be handed over to the government transport pool.

The public administration ministry said as the cars would be used for state purpose waiving duty on these would be logical.

The ministry added an OIC foreign ministers' meeting was held in Dhaka in 1983 and Toyota Cressida cars were purchased on that occasion.