After the elapse of two weeks since the detention of Shahid Islam in Kuwait, the government is still in the dark about it as the Gulf nation is yet to respond to Bangladesh's query about him.
An independent MP from Lakshmipur-2 constituency, Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul was arrested by the Kuwait authorities in connection with his alleged involvement in human trafficking and money laundering two weeks ago.
He has been in remand under Kuwait Prosecution office since then, as his bail plea was rejected thrice.
When contacted, foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told the FE that his ministry was waiting for the official reply from Kuwait.
According to officials of the ministry, bureaucratic tangles and the lack of priority are the main reasons for the delay.
"The foreign ministry of Kuwait will inform the interior ministry about the note verbale and then the Kuwait interior ministry will reply to them. After that the Kuwait foreign ministry will send the reply to us," a senior official of the foreign ministry explained.
Foreign Minister had earlier said that the Covid-related holidays in Kuwait might have caused the delay.
Meanwhile, Mr Islam told the investigators that he had bribed some top Kuwaiti officials, he was not involved in human trafficking or money laundering, reports Kuwait media on Wednesday.
He told the investigators that his company presently has 34 contracts through which he employed over 9,000 Bangladeshi workers for cleaning jobs, said several Kuwaiti news outlets quoting sources.
Kuwait Prosecution Office has summoned 20 people on the basis of the statements given by Mr Islam during the interrogation.
Recently, two Kuwaiti MPs denied any link to Mr Islam, who is accused of leading a major residency trading and human trafficking racket.
Interior minsiter Anas Al-Saleh announced earlier this week that government officials and companies were involved in the scam, while the social media has published the names of the two lawmakers.
One Kuwaiti MP said that he did not have any link to the Bangladeshi lawmaker and called on those who have any evidence to go to the court. He insisted that he was among the first to crack down on visa traders.
The Kuwaiti lawmaker said such issues are normally raised to tarnish his image ahead of the elections and on the eve of grilling debates in the National Assembly.
