Kolkata/IBNS: Bangladesh's ruling party Awami League MP Anwarul Azim has been killed in Kolkata, the country's home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told media Wednesday.

"MP Anwarul Azim Anar has been killed in Kolkata, and three have been arrested in Bangladesh," Khan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

According to reports, Anwarul Azim had gone missing in Kolkata since May 18. He reached India on May 12.

After no whereabouts, a high-level search operation was launched to find him.

Anwarul Azim was last seen on the afternoon of May 13 when he went with friends to a home in Bidhannagar near Kolkata for a medical check-up.

According to the ANI report, his family friend in Kolkata said that his last physical presence was before May 13 and that there had been no physical or direct contact with him since May 18.

However, messages have been exchanged from Azim's phone with his family in Dhaka and his friend in Bidhannagar, indicating his intended journey to Delhi.

Indian authorities have launched a joint investigation into the killing. Azim's family members are also set to arrive in Kolkata for further formalities, and their visa process is underway, reported ANI.

“As our Home Minister has announced, so I definitely believe that this has happened...But we still don't have any authentic information from the Government of India. So, we will have to wait. But we apprehend that he may have been killed or assassinated because our Home Minister has already announced it...There might be several reasons behind it,” Shaban Mahmood, Minister (Press), High Commission for Bangladesh in New Delhi told ANI.

"But we don't have any clear information...He was a very frequent traveller to Kolkata and had good relations with the people in Kolkata. He has a very close friend - Gopal Vishwas. Maybe, he came here for treatment or business purposes or any other issue. We don't know...His daughter is trying to come to Kolkata today..."