DHAKA: The World Bank’s Bangladesh office has handed over two cars used by its staff to customs officials after investigations started on 16 such cars owned by the global lender’s staffers.
Bangladesh Customs Intelligence chief Moinul Khan said an official of the Dhaka office has turned over an SUV and a sedan.
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They were brought in to the country under the Privileged Persons (Customs Procedure) Rules 2003 that allow officials of the donor agencies to import cars without paying any duty if permitted by their mission head.
“It’s clear from the turning over of these two vehicles that they have abused the duty-free facility,” Khan said adding that “We will keep an eye on the World Bank over what measures they take on the rest of the 14 cars.”
Officials have to inform the customs authorities about the process of handing over their cars while leaving Bangladesh. They also have to provide the passbooks issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) against the cars.
According to customs officials, 16 World Bank officials brought as many cars of different models in 2006, 2007 and 2009. They have left the country but had not provided the required information on their cars.
Initial investigation revealed that they had handed the cars to persons who are not considered as privileged ones, without paying the duty as per the rules.
On Feb 16, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) wrote to the World Bank country director asking for details of the 16 vehicles.
The CIID move to investigate the alleged irregularities of the World Bank officials coincides with a High Court rule for trying those who had made ‘false graft allegations’ over Padma Bridge project.
The global lender was asked to withdraw its funding request by Bangladesh government after a stink over corruption allegations.
Recently, a Canadian court published a verdict acquitting three business executives of charges that officials of a Canadian firm had planned to bribe Bangladeshi officials to get contracts in the Padma Bridge project.
CIID Director General Khan said earlier if a privileged person sells such cars to a non-privileged party and takes the money out of the country, he or she will face charges of evading duty and laundering money.
