Mercedes left in front of Customs Intelligence office in Dhaka

In a rather bizarre show of conscientiousness, an anonymous Mercedes owner has left behind his flashy two-door luxury car right at the Customs Intelligence’s doorstep to show his 'respect for the law'.

A letter accompanying the compact luxury roadster says that its owner had woken up to the call of his conscience and deposited the vehicle which was in his possession.

On Tuesday night, baffled customs officers at the capital’s Kakrail office of the Customs Intelligence took hold of the car quietly parked on the road right outside the office.

“This is an unprecedented incident. Never before has anyone voluntarily left behind a car in the dark of the night,” Customs Intelligence Director General Moinul Khan told bdnews24.com.

He said a letter inside the car said its owner wanted to set an example.

“I want others to follow my example and surrender illegal cars in their possession to the Customs Intelligence,” Khan quoted from the letter.

The owner of the car also remembered to praise the Customs Intelligence for their ongoing drive.

However, the identity of the owner of the car remains unknown.

The letter found inside the car.

Investigations have revealed that the car is a red two-door Mercedes SLK 230 which is powered by a 2300 cc engine.

The car bearing chassis number WDB1704652F415642 was manufactured in 2012.

The Customs Intelligence official said they suspect it was brought into the country by using the ‘Carnet de Passage’ facility.

Under international regulations, tourists, by using the facility, can enter one country from another with their vehicles without paying customs duties.

However, the car was retained in the country in violation of the terms of the facility.

It was voluntarily returned as a result of the nationwide customs drive to apprehend illegal cars in Bangladesh, Khan said.

He said this is the 32nd car that has been confiscated by the customs and added that with duties included, the car costs Tk 30 million.

Earlier, a Lexus car was similarly left outside the Customs Intelligence office in Sylhet.