Shahid’s arrest on human trafficking damaging Bangladesh’s image: TIB

The arrest and trial of a Bangladeshi MP in Kuwait on charges of human trafficking, money laundering and bribery is damaging for the reputation of Bangladesh's politics, society and the people as a whole, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said today.

It may affect the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Kuwait, and the Bangladeshi expatriates working in other countries can have a reputational crisis, the anti-corruption watchdog said.

"Bangladeshi migrants in Kuwait may face job losses and repatriation," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said at a webinar titled "Role of Civil Society in Combatting Organised Crimes," jointly organised by the Kuwait Transparency Society and TIB.

Bangladeshi lawmaker from Laxmipur-2, Shahid Islam Papul, was arrested by Kuwaiti CID on June 6 and sent to the jail after interrogation by Kuwait's Public Prosecution. Papul co-owned Marafie Kuwaitia Group with a Kuwaiti citizen. He is managing director and CEO of the group and is accused of human trafficking of some 20,000 foreign workers, mostly Bangladeshis, in exchange of Tk 7-9 lakh each.

Migrants alleged many of them were not provided jobs and wages as contracted, and charged money for work permit renewal. He is also accused of bribing Kuwaiti officials for getting job contracts for his company and recruitment of foreign workers and laundering millions of dollars.

Iftekharuzzaman said it is so embarrassing for the people of Bangladesh that an MP, who is responsible for preventing crimes, has been accused of committing the heinous crimes.

Involvement of lawmakers in crimes is not a unique case of Bangladesh and Kuwait, but there has been a trend in Bangladesh that more businessmen entered parliament over the decades. In the first parliament after Bangladesh's independence, only about 17 percent MPs were businessmen, which increased to more than 61 percent now, he said.

"There is nothing wrong with businesspeople doing politics, but the problem arises when they are involved in corruption and criminality," Iftekhrzuaaman said and added that there have been a few other cases where lawmakers were found involved in such crimes.

MP Shahid Islam and his wife, also an MP, does not have a political background at all. They became members of parliament allegedly by the power of money that they earned through illicit activities, he claimed.

When Kuwait is acting against corruption in connection to Shahid Islam, Bangladesh government seems hesitant, and only lately CID and Anti-Corruption Commission began an investigation, months after an initial denial by the foreign ministry, he said, demanding enforcement of laws to prevent corruption.

"It is time for people to stand up against corruption. Fundamental reform is essential to separate business and politics," Iftekharuzzaman said.

Dr Hassan Johar, former member of Kuwait National Assembly, said over 90 percent of expatriate workers have to pay high prices to get recruited in Kuwait and the money that goes to Kuwait remains out of the formal economy.

Then, the expatriates in Kuwait face crowded living conditions and deductions in pay. Such cases of labour abuses and money laundering can also affect Kuwait's international reputation and businesses, he said.

Kuwait has signed and ratified a number of international conventions and have domestic laws, but the enforcement has been weak, Dr Johar said, calling for mobilising strong public opinion against corruption.

MP and Inter-Parliamentary Union Honorary President Saber Hossain Chowdhury said he does not want to pre-judge the case of MP Shahid Islam as the Kuwait government is investigating charges against him. However, due legal procedure must be followed in doing so, he added.

"Let's take Bangladesh-Kuwait issue as a case and study where the actual problems are. It is not only a national effort, but global actions are needed to combat corruption," Saber Hossain Chowdhury said.

Transparency International Chair Delia Ferreira Rubio said money laundering and human trafficking are transnational crimes that require transnational efforts. However, there are issues of corporate secrecy whereby the money launderers remain anonymous. There should be reforms to such secrecy rules.

She said the organised crimes and money laundering facilitate various other forms of crimes, and things worsen when parliament members, who are supposed to prevent such crimes, are involved in it.

"We need legal reforms, as well as their enforcement, to stop the possibility of hiding crimes linked to money laundering," Rubio said.

Kuwait University Law school Professor Dr Dalal Al Saif and Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) Chair Majid Al-Mutairi also spoke at the programme moderated by KTS Board Member Asrar Hayat.