Customs summon ex-UNDP Bangladesh chief for ‘abusing duty-free import privilege’

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has summoned Stefan Priesner, a former UNDP resident coordinator in Dhaka, for an investigation into charges of ‘abusing duty-free car import facility for officials of donor agencies'.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Feb 2017, 10:53 PM
Updated : 28 Feb 2017, 10:58 PM

CIID Director General Moinul Khan told bdnews24.com on Tuesday a letter was sent to Priesner on Monday asking him to appear on Mar 30.

The UNDP official, currently posted in Uzbekistan, earlier expressed his inability to come to Bangladesh in response to a letter sent on Dec 28, Khan said.

The CIID DG said Priesner, who served as the UNDP chief in Dhaka between 2008 and 2012, sold the SUV brought under the duty-free facilities to a businessman, Tareque Hasan, without completing the tariff-related formalities.

According to Khan, customs officials seized the car from a house in Gulshan in the first week of December.

Tareque, the businessman, was using the car with the yellow number-plate for diplomats and international agencies still on, Khan said.

After finding out about the matter, Khan said the notice was sent to Priesner as part of the investigation into the charges brought under laws to prevent evasion of duty and laundering of money.

"The allegations against him have been proved in initial investigation. He was called to defend himself during framing of the charges.

"Businessman Tareque Hasan and a representative of the UNDP mission will also be present on that day (Mar 30)," he added.