The Bangladeshi Ambassador to Kuwait S.M. Abul Kalam said the country’s Embassy will not interfere in the investigations carried out by the Kuwaiti authorities against compatriot Muhammad Shahid Islam (Kazi Papul), reported Al Rai daily. Shahid Islam, who is also a member of the Bangladesh Parliament, stands accused of human trafficking.
Bangladeshi Ambassador Kalam said yesterday that the embassy will not provide any support to the arrested man until after the Kuwaiti authorities have brought charges against him, and mentioned that the issue was not yet discussed with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al-Jarallah.
He added that he is unaware if the detained man is facing imprisonment, and mentioned that Shahid Islam has not yet contacted the embassy.
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecution has ordered the continued detention of the Bangladeshi MP Shahid Islam, who is widely known in his country as ‘Kazi Babul’, pending further investigation. He has been charged with human trafficking, money laundering, and bringing thousands of menial workers to Kuwait in collaboration with his Kuwaiti partner. In the meantime, the accused informed the Public Prosecution that he has been working in Kuwait for 10 years, and has a valid residence permit. He also said he is a partner in one of the cleaning companies that was established in partnership with a Kuwaiti where he works as a general manager, and that he provides work to the Bangladeshi community in Kuwait.
He denied taking any money from anyone and said to the contrary, he has been helping his countrymen to earn a living. Shahid Islam also denied the accusation from seven Bangladeshis, who testified before the Public Prosecution that each of them paid KD2,500 dinars for the accused (Shahid Islam) to bring them to Kuwait to work as driver for his company, but when they arrived to the country, there were no jobs instead they were asked to seek jobs for themselves. According to the daily, they also said they were asked to pay more money for renewing their residency permits. Following their confessions, the suspect was arrested from his home in Mishref and referred for interrogation.
