The National Parliament has passed a bill scrapping the longstanding provision that allowed lawmakers to import vehicles without paying customs duty, marking a significant shift in parliamentary privileges.
The legislation was approved on Sunday after being placed before the House by Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman as an amendment to The Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973. The bill was passed without any discussion or proposed amendments.
Earlier, the cabinet had cleared the draft law at its meeting on 23 April, paving the way for its final approval in Parliament.
With the passage of the bill, Section 3C of the existing law has been repealed. Previously, MPs were entitled to import one car, jeep or microbus duty-free during their tenure, with exemptions from customs duty except for certain charges such as development surcharge and permit fees. The provision also allowed them to import another vehicle after five years under similar conditions.
The move comes in line with political commitments made ahead of the 13th Parliamentary Election, where candidates from multiple parties pledged to forgo such privileges if elected.
Following the polls, the ruling party formally decided not to avail the facility, while opposition parties had also announced similar positions, including rejecting government plot allocations.
The repeal is being seen as part of broader efforts to promote transparency, reduce special privileges, and reinforce public trust in elected representatives.
