News Desk :
The investigation department in Kuwait ordered summoning the brother of Bangladeshi lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul, who was arrested in Kuwait on charges of human trafficking and money laundering.
Citing the Arabic daily Al-Rai, Kuwait Times said Kazi Badrul, younger brother of Papul, was ordered to be summoned after the investigation department received new information, reports Bangla Tribune.
According to the information, Badrul “was an associate of the main defendant [Papul], his wife and others in human trafficking operations involving thousands of their compatriots desiring to travel to Kuwait.”
Meanwhile, two Kuwaiti lawmakers — Saadoun Hammad and Salah Khorsheed, who were arrested on charges of taking bribes from Papul, were granted bail on Saturday.
Both the MPs refused allegations of power abuse against them and denied knowing the Bangladeshi lawmaker or having any link with him.
They also told the court that he mentioned their names only to muddy the case.
Papul, an independent member of parliament elected from Lakshmipur 2 constituency, was arrested by Kuwait authorities on June 6 in Kuwait City.
Kuwait also suspended a major general in connection with his alleged link with human trafficking and the visa trading business of Papul.
According to Al Qabas, Papul is a member of a three-man racket whose other members include another Bangladeshi MP, whose wife is also an MP from the seats reserved for women.It added that the trio occupied sensitive positions in three major companies that brought over 20,000 Bangladeshi workers into Kuwait in exchange for large sums of money believed to be in excess of 50 million dinars.
