Considering the growing demand, unscrupulous traders are importing automobiles fitted with tinted glasses and selling them at showrooms openly. Glasses are being tinted with special papers in some cases to meet the demand, sources said.

Customs officials at ports and officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), who are supposed to prevent such practices, are issuing clearances and registrations for automobiles fitted with tinted glasses in exchange of bribes.

According to traffic police, tinted glass is generally used on vehicles carrying the president and the prime minister of the country, and ambassadors and high commissioners of diplomatic missions in Dhaka for security reasons.

The ministry of home affairs sometimes gives permission to very important persons (VIPs) in exceptional cases considering the necessity.

"Import of vehicles fitted with this special glass should not get clearance at the port while BRTA officials must check it during the registration process," said Feroz Al Mujahid Khan, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Traffic (South).

While automobiles with built-in tinted glasses are being illegally imported, glasses are also being tinted in some cases after importing the vehicles, he explained. "We do file cases and impose fines if the owner fails to show the ministry's permission."

"Demand for automobiles with tinted glasses is on the rise lately. Buyers are now asking to make the glasses tinted although it flouts traffic rules," said a car showroom owner adding that it is not a problem since the owners can 'manage' things.

It was found that luxurious sedans and sports utility vehicles of expensive makes like Lexus, Prado, Pajero, Harrier and some other brands usually are fitted with tinted glasses in most cases. Medium priced automobiles such as Voxy, Townace, and Mark II quite often are also fitted with these glasses.

"Automobiles that are expensive use tinted glasses in most cases. We usually try to overlook them because the owners of those vehicles are very powerful," said a traffic sergeant while talking to The Daily Star.

Sometimes cases are filed if the drivers of those vehicles grossly violate other traffic rules but such cases are not common, he said adding that rich people are using tinted glasses on their automobiles these days despite the fact that they cannot enter the cantonment area with vehicles fitted with such glasses.