Human Trafficking: Kuwait CID summons MP Shahid’s brother

Kuwait's Criminal Investigation Department summoned Kazi Mohammad Badrul Alam alias Liton Chowdhury, younger brother of Lakshmipur-2 lawmaker Kazi Shahid Islam Papul.

The department gave the order after receiving new information that he was an associate of the main defendant Papul, his wife and others in human trafficking operations involving thousands of Bangladeshi workers, reported Kuwait Times on Sunday, quoting Arabic newspaper Al-Rai.

CID officials in Bangladesh said they are also looking for Badrul over similar charges.

Papul, who co-owns Marafie Kuwaitia Group with a Kuwaiti citizen, was arrested by Kuwait CID on June 6 and sent to jail after being interrogated by prosecutors.

He is accused of trafficking some 20,000 people, mostly Bangladeshis, in exchange for Tk 7-9 lakh each. Migrants alleged that many of them were not provided with jobs and wages as promised and were instead charged money for work permit renewal.

Papul also faces charges of bribing Kuwaiti officials for contracts for his company, the recruitment of foreign workers and laundering of millions of dollars.

Maj Gen Mazen Al-Jarrah, assistant undersecretary at Kuwait interior ministry, was suspended on June 30 for allegedly accepting bribes and making financial transactions linked to Papul's company.

Meanwhile, two Kuwaiti MPs -- Saadoun Hammad and Salah Khorsheed -- who were detained and interrogated by prosecutors were released on Saturday on KD 10,000 (Tk 27.7 lakh) bail each, Al-Rai reported.

They were detained on allegations of their involvement with Shahid Islam Papul, but both the MPs denied abusing their power and knowing Papul or having any connections with him.

Bangladesh's CID, also probing human trafficking charges against Papul, has claimed to have gleaned important information from an employee of Job Bank International, a recruiting agency owned by Papul's brother Kazi Badrul Alam.

Golam Mostafa, accountant of the recruiting agency, was arrested on August 20 in a case filed by several trafficking victims with Motijheel Police Station on July 7. Mostafa on August 24 gave a confessional statement to a court.

"As Kazi Badrul's name has already surfaced in a confessional statement, we will bring trafficking charges against him," a CID official told The Daily Star, requesting anonymity.