\\\'End duty-free car imports for MPs\\\'

A petition has sought to stop duty-free import of cars for members of the parliament (MP). Lawyer Md Yunus Ali Akhand filed the petition at the Supreme Court on Monday. It also sought a rule on why the decision to allow imports of cars without duty for MPs shall not be discontinued and current directives allowing that be cancelled. The cabinet, finance and commerce secretaries and chairman of National Board of Revenue have been asked to reply to the rule. The petition sought a stay order on the import of these foreign cars for MPs until the rule was issued and disposed of. Quoting a report published in the ‘Daily Manabzamin’ it said the MPs were first allowed duty-free import of cars on May 24, 1988. Indian MPs use 1300 cc cars whereas their Bangladeshi counterparts use luxurious cars ranging from 3000 to 5500 cc, it said. Petitioner Akhand said the MPs do not pay duty for importing cars but burden citizens with huge duties for the same. “They impose huge burden of duties on citizens for importing cars and themselves avoid it which is immoral and unlawful.” The petition said the article 68 of the Constitution lays down privileges for MPs. Since there is no mention about duty-free cars for them in this article, the subsequent government directive is in conflict with the Constitution, said Akhand’s petition, according to bdnews24.com.