Opposition lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah on Wednesday clarified in Jatiya Sangsad that he did not seek tax-free cars, saying that he had only proposed allowing lawmakers to use government cars during their tenure like other public servants, without incurring additional costs.

Hasnat has accused sections of the media of creating confusion over his remarks made in the parliament on Tuesday.

Hasnat explained that his proposal was for lawmakers to be allowed to use government car as like as other public servants, including district and upazila chairmen, mayors, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers and assistant commissioners.

He said that the arrangement would allow lawmakers to use an official vehicle throughout their tenure without additional public cost, noting that lawmakers were already entitled to get Tk 70,000 for vehicle maintenance, although no car was allocated for them.

Hasnat further said that the vehicle would remain government property and would be returned at the end of a lawmaker’s term, stressing that his suggestion was aimed at ensuring a structured and cost-neutral transport system rather than seeking any tax-free benefit.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Hasnat urged the government to provide official vehicles to lawmakers.

Responding to the proposal with the speaker’s permission, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the demand raised by the opposition lawmaker Hasnat could be discussed further with both treasury and opposition members, and confirmed that the matter would be brought to the attention of the lawmaker for consideration.

Leader of the opposition Shafiqur Rahman welcomed the treasury bench’s acknowledgment of the issue, but remarked in a lighter tone that requests from younger lawmaker Hasnat should not be dismissed outright.