The Daily Star
March 5th, 2007
Voguish cars turn thorny
Rashidul Hasan
Luxurious cars were a symbol of high status for many former ministers and lawmakers of BNP even a few months ago. But the situation has changed and now they are trying to hide their cars which, many believe, are the evidence of their corruption.
Many influential politicians, who once used to drive expensive cars proudly on city streets, are now keeping them in possession of their acquaintances or on display at showrooms, and trying to sell them at low prices.
The joint forces seized luxurious cars of a number of former ministers, lawmakers and leaders of BNP in the last few days. The law enforcers believe that the owners of such lavish cars are involved in corrupt practices and that most of these cars were purchased with illegally earned money.
The law enforcement agencies are trying to unearth the sources of money of these political leaders and many other queries about them.
There are allegations that a few former MPs bought others luxurious cars under the tax-free scheme in exchange for financial benefit from them.
In the last couple of days, the joint forces seized cars of at least four former BNP MPs, including one former minister, former parliamentary affairs adviser, and political secretary to the immediate past prime minister.
In a latest drive, the law enforcers seized three luxurious cars, their blue books and other relevant documents from former BNP lawmaker Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury's Dhanmondi residence. Dhanmondi police filed a general diary (GD) in this connection.
Listed corruption suspects of the BNP got panic-stricken when the joint forces seized the expensive BMW car of former MP Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan from the garage of one of his close aides in Khagrachhari on February 21.
On February 25, the joint forces seized an ultra luxury Range Rover imported by former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed from Pacific Motors' showroom at Tejgaon.
On February 28, the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seized Harris Chowdhury's luxurious sport utility vehicle (SUV) from the quarter of his driver. Sources said Harris was trying to sell the car through the driver.
Earlier, the law enforcers seized two cars of controversial BNP ward commissioner Chowdhury Alam and five others of former lawmaker Salauddin Ahmed.
Sub-Inspector Shamsul Alam Biswas of Shyampur Police Station filed a case against detained Salauddin yesterday for using the same registration number for two cars.
Salauddin surrendered to the court last month and 10 cases have so far been filed against him on charges of different allegations.
The law enforcement agencies earlier asked former communications minister Nazmul Huda to surrender his luxurious SUV to Dhanmondi Police Station. Dhanmondi police later filed a criminal case against Huda for using that car with a fake registration number.
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