A record number of 1,265 vehicles from Japan-Singapore worth Tk 500 crore have been imported into the country through Chattogram port amid the ban on import of luxury goods due to the dollar crisis. This consignment of cars has been brought to Chattogram port by a ship. However, after a long nine-month shutdown, imports started again just before the budget was announced.
The vessel named MV Malaysia Star has berthed at Jetty No. 7, 8 of Chattogram Port with the consignment of cars.
The remaining 706 vehicles shipped will be unloaded at Mongla port. These imported vehicles include private cars, racing cars, Pajero Jeeps and microbuses.
There was a dearth of cars in the showrooms due to import being stopped for the last eight months, prices were high. In this situation, as the import of cars has resumed, the prices of cars are expected to decrease by ordinary traders. And from this challan, the revenue of the government will be more thanTk 200 crore.
Barrister BadruzzamanMunshi, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Custom House, said that the duty rate on imported cars may increase in the upcoming budget, that's why import of cars is increasing in the hope of more profit. The import of large cars in the country is increasing. Unloading of imported vehicles from ships at the port is underway.
Earlier, import of luxury itemslike cars were stopped since August last year due to the dollar crunch as banks imposed restrictions on opening LCs. Some businessmen from Dhaka and Chattogram are involved in importing this huge consignment of vehicles.
The leaders of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), an organisation of vehicles dealers, are unwilling to accept these allegations.
One of the leaders of BARVIDA said that if the economy of the country is to be kept running, the use of cars should be kept running. These vehicles came in the LCs from October to December last year.
