Police Seek Use of Former Minister’s Luxury Vehicle

A brand-new, dark blue Toyota Pajero Land Cruiser VVT (ZDX) has been drawing attention near the entrance of Gulshan Police Station, lying neglected under a thick layer of dust. The vehicle, valued at approximately BDT 4.5 crore, has long remained stationary, arousing curiosity among passersby. Many have inquired with on-duty police officers about the owner of the lavish vehicle.

Investigations reveal that the car belongs to former Law Minister Anisul Haque. Following the government’s collapse during the July uprising, Haque went into hiding, and his vehicle was similarly concealed. However, he could not evade authorities for long. On 13 August 2024, eight days after the government fell, Haque, along with Salman F Rahman—an industrialist and close aide to the deposed government—attempted to escape via the Buriganga River in disguise. Both were intercepted by the Coast Guard and subsequently arrested at Sadarghat.

The police report that after receiving intelligence that Haque’s luxury vehicle was being hidden at United Hospital, they conducted a raid on 16 September 2024. The car, registered under Dhaka Metro Gh 21-9639, was found in the hospital basement parking. Due to locked doors, the vehicle could not be moved immediately and remained under the supervision of the hospital’s security personnel for several days.

Following its recovery, police submitted a letter to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) for ownership verification. The BRTA confirmed that the vehicle had been registered in Haque’s name on 4 October 2022 and remains valid until 31 December 2026. Imported brand-new under an MP quota, it was duty-free.

By Wednesday afternoon, the vehicle at Gulshan Police Station remained dust-covered, with its wheels partly sunk and political slogans scrawled across its body in Bengali and English. On 9 September, Sub-Inspector Moshiur Rahman formally recorded the vehicle in a General Diary (GD) and moved it into the police compound. Inside the car, two walkie-talkies, tax tokens, registration papers, and documents from the Ministry of Law were recovered.

Police subsequently applied to the court on 23 September 2024 for permission to use the vehicle, citing a shortage of DMP vehicles and the potential for improved operational efficiency. Investigations confirmed that the walkie-talkies had originally been issued to Special Branch constable Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had placed them in the minister’s car during duty on 5 August 2024. The devices were later returned to him through court channels.

Sources note that despite approval to use the vehicle, a luxury car of this calibre is rarely allocated for police use, even among high-ranking officials. Details regarding which branch or officer may ultimately receive the vehicle remain unclear.

Key Details of the Vehicle

The story now balances investigative detail with public interest, providing a clear timeline and context for the vehicle’s recovery and intended police use.