Human trafficking allegations against Laxmipur MP fake news: Momen

The human trafficking allegations against Laxmipur-2 MP is fake news, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, referring to reports in the Kuwaiti media.

"We have heard it is fake news. We don't have any information [on this]," he told journalists at his ministry office today.

"Our mission has not provided any information about him. We don't know about it. One newspaper published it, but then it said it wasn't verified," Momen said.

According to media reports, lawmaker (Laxmipur-2) Quazi Shaheed Islam alias Papul is one of three Bangladeshis involved in human trafficking in Kuwait.

He left the country before the start of a drive there to arrest human traffickers, according to a Kuwaiti daily report which quoted the country's home ministry.

The three-member ring amassed about Tk 1,400 crore through trafficking 20,000 Bangladeshis into Kuwait, the country's intelligence department said.

Kuwait's Arabic daily Al-Qabas and Arab Times last Wednesday published a report about Bangladeshi human traffickers, but they did not reveal the name of the Bangladeshi MP.

Shaheed Islam's name came to light when the Bangladesh mission in Kuwait was contacted by Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Anisuzzaman, head of chancery at the Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait, today told The Daily Star that following media reports, the embassy wanted to know details from the Kuwaiti CID.

"We are yet to get any response," he told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said legal steps will be taken if the allegations are proven to be true.

"Legal measures will be taken if there is any complaint of corruption [against Shaheed Islam]," Quader told reporters at his ministry office at the Secretariat this noon.

"As per the prime minister's stance against corruption, I will ask the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter," he said.