Maj Gen Md Ashikuzzaman. Photo: Collected

The government has decided to appoint Maj Gen Md Ashikuzzaman as the new ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait.

Ashikuzzaman, who was commissioned in Bangladesh Army in 1988, has been serving in instructional, staff and command appointments at various levels during his military service.

He also served in three UN Peace Support Missions in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and DR Congo. Right before his appointment as the ambassador, he served as Senior Directing Staff (Army) at the National Defence College, Bangladesh.

He obtained his Masters of Defence Studies and Masters of Strategic Studies from National University, Bangladesh.

The appointment of Maj Gen Ashikuzzaman comes at a time when a scandal involving Bangladeshi MP Shahid Islam Papul and officials and some MPs of Kuwait is making media headlines.

Papul, who was arrested on June 6, is accused of human trafficking, visa trading, bribery and money laundering. During interrogation by Kuwait's Public Prosecution, Papul confessed to bribing officials millions of dollars for getting his job contracts and recruitment of foreign workers.

Bangladesh's current ambassador to Kuwait, SM Abul Kalam, has defended Papul in a letter to the foreign ministry in February, raising questions over his role in checking Papul's misdeeds.