Chattogram Custom House put 43 confiscated vehicles, including 24 imported under the "Member of Parliament" (MP) quota, up for auction, but bidders showed interest in 35 of the cars.

Some 143 bids were submitted for the 35 vehicles, while nine MP quota cars failed to attract any buyer.

The reserve value -- import cost plus duty -- of the MP quota cars was Tk 9.67 crore.

As the first auction did not reach at least 60 percent of the reserve value, none of the MP quota cars could be sold, according to custom officials.

One of the vehicles, belonging to SM Kamal Hossain, former MP from Khulna 3, received a bid of Tk 3.10 crore.

The remaining non-MP quota cars fetched bids ranging from Tk 2 lakh to Tk 1.37 crore.

According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), 44 vehicles were imported under the MP quota, of which 13 were cleared before August 15.

The remaining 31 vehicles—mostly of brands Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado—were seized by the customs.

These MP quota vehicles, with engine capacities of 3,346cc, are subject to a standard duty rate of 826.6 percent. Most of them were imported from Japan and Singapore, with engine capacities ranging from 3,000cc to 4,000cc.

Under existing regulations, the lawmakers or MPs can import one duty-free vehicle every five years.

While such vehicles are typically subject to taxes of up to 810 percent, MPs are exempt from paying these duties.

The NBR data shows that the government has lost Tk 5,147 crore in revenue over the past 15 years due to this tax exemption.

The duty-free car facility was introduced in 1987 during the rule of HM Ershad to appease lawmakers and a related notification was issued on May 24 in 1988.

Md Sakib Hossain, assistant commissioner of customs and auction officer, said submitting a bid does not guarantee a car's sale.

"Only 14 to 15 vehicles met the requirement of covering at least 60 percent of the reserve value. Only those can be sold," he said.

The final decision will be taken by the auction committee, he added.