CID launches official probe against MP Papul

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police has started an official investigation into the human trafficking allegations against Lakshmipur's independent lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul.

Confirming the matter, CID Chief and Additional Inspector General of Police Barrister Md Mahbubur Rahman told the media at a briefing on Monday that they were now trying to know how Papul trafficked people to Kuwait.

"We can brief you in details after the investigation is over," he added.

When asked about the investigation, CID's Deputy Inspector General Imtiaz Ahmed said they were thoroughly monitoring the issue.

"Keep patience; we will be back with proper evidence for sure," he added.

It has been one month since Kuwait arrested Kazi Papul over his alleged involvement in human trafficking, money laundering, illegal visa trade and bribery.

Papul was picked up by the CID of the West Asian country from his rented house on June 6 night.

Kuwait public prosecution department is scheduled to produce him before the court on July 9 and seek extension to his imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the CID has unearthed a huge transaction of money by human traffickers who have been alluring people for travelling abroad and cheating on them after sending them to different countries.

CID Chief Mahbubur Rahman said around 67 people were arrested across the country for their involvement in human trafficking. The CID arrested 36 of them while 20 of the arrested people had already given confessional statements to the court.

Mahbubur said their agency was investigating 15 human trafficking cases out of 26 filed after the Libya incident.

He said they had found transaction details of around Tk20-30 crore from a bank account of a peon of a manpower recruiting agency. They had also identified three masterminds behind the trafficking syndicate.

The CID chief said they had received two lists of human traffickers from two ministries. Trafficked victims, their families and embassies to different countries had also provided them with huge information and the names of human traffickers. Police were keeping some of the accused under surveillance.

Mahbubur said several masterminds of human trafficking incidents were now travelling abroad and that actions would be taken after they returned to Bangladesh.

The CID is now working to confiscate the wealth of these traffickers, he added.

CID's organised crime unit Deputy Inspector General Imtiaz Ahmed said they had already completed a primary investigation into the properties of three arrested human traffickers and that money laundering cases would be filed against them shortly.

The investigating agency said that it would set up a cyber-police station in Dhaka where complaints could be lodged online from all over the country.