Foreigners in duty-free car scam

A decent number of outside nationals working with significant worldwide associations situated in Bangladesh throughout the years abused the office to import extravagance autos free of duty, authority records recommend.

While leaving Bangladesh, they sold those autos to Bangladeshi nationals, denying the state coffer millions in charges, as per authorities of National Leading group of Income (NBR).

The vast majority of these outsiders worked for associations, for example, the World Bank (WB), the Asian Improvement Bank (ADB), the Assembled States Office for Universal Advancement (USAID), the UK's Area of expertise for Global Improvement (DFID), Japan Worldwide Collaboration Office (JICA), the Unified Countries Kids' Reserve (UNICEF) and the Assembled Countries Advancement Program (UNDP), as indicated by the NBR.

The assessment powers figured out how to recognize 395 such defaulters in an uncommon examination crossing three months.According to law, remote nationals of various advancement associations working in Bangladesh may import autos without expense, if they would take it back toward the end of their remain. A passbook is issued against their name to follow along.

Be that as it may, on the off chance that they select to offer the vehicle, the purchaser needs to pay the expense. The orgainsations they work for may likewise put those vehicles up for sale, yet whoever gets it needs to fork over the required funds also, as indicated by standards.

Generally outside nationals working in Bangladesh purchase jeeps and these vehicles have yellow number plates.The NBR discoveries uncover that the World Bank's senior authorities have abused this office the most. Vehicles brought by upwards of 53 of previous WB staff are absent. Some have been sold to Bangladeshi nationals too.

The UNDP has 48 of such defaulters while the JICA has 41, the UNICEF 23, the DFID 18, the Sustenance and Horticulture Association (FAO) 17 and the World Wellbeing Association (WHO) 12.

Stephen Presner was the nation executive of the UNDP in Bangladesh from 2008 to 2012. He utilized a Mitsubishi pajero that is worth about Tk 10 million and he didn't need to pay 596 for each penny impose, not at all like the prerequisite of others. In any case, before leaving the nation he sold the vehicle to one Ashikul Hasib. The Traditions Insight and Examination Directorate grabbed the auto on 28 November.

Christina Kimes came to Bangladesh in 2012 to work in a senior position for the World Bank. She was likewise the acting nation executive for some time. Her passbook lapsed on 31 December a year ago, however she didn't surrender it to the NBR. There is no news of whereabouts of the vehicle she imported either.

Sanjay Kathuria, the previous boss business analyst of the World Bank Dhaka Office, has done likewise. Before leaving the nation in 2014, he didn't present the passbook issued against the auto he imported without duty. Salman Zaidi, another previous boss market analyst of the WB, has additionally left Bangladesh utilizing a vehicle imported without duty. What's more, there are no news of the auto.

At the point when the World Bank Dhaka Office was reached over email, they said they are yet to get any reports from the NBR and they won't state anything without seeing the papers.The UNDP Dhaka Office likewise did not answer till Tuesday.

NBR executive Nojibur Rahman said the associations are as yet working in Bangladesh despite the fact that those staff have left the nation. "Their top supervisors have been reached and soon an answer will be achieved," he trusted. "Bangladeshi nationals who have purchased those autos will likewise be recognized. They need to pay the full assessment or face lawful activity," he included. NBR authorities said they would soon serve the associations indicate cause take note.