Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, Where is there to be jealous about Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus? Let him debate with me if he can. Debate the way it is debated in America.
The Prime Minister said this to a journalist's question at a press conference about his visit to India at Ganabhaban on Tuesday (June 25) at 11 am.
Sheikh Hasina said, I have no desire for the award. I don't even have the money to hire a lobbyist for this. But yes, many Nobel laureates proposed for me after the Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Treaty. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize has a distinct political purpose. So I have no desire for it.
The head of government said, Dr. Yunus wanted to form a political party. But he could not form the party. If he has given so much to the people of the village, then those people should jump. Where, no one jumped.
She said the government did not file a case against Yunus. I do not want to comment on sub-judice matters. Foreigners who are talking about Dr. Yunus's trial can be asked what action is taken in their country after years of tax evasion.
She also said, Dr. Yunus filed a case against the government and lost. He illegally wanted to stay as MD of Grameen Bank for an additional 10 years. The workers sued. He was sentenced. What is my fault?'
Sheikh Hasina said, I did the grameen business for him. Although his business is said to alleviate poverty, it actually fosters poverty. How much poverty has been removed by his activities and how much poverty has Sheikh Hasina's government removed? It is said that I am harassing him because he got the Nobel. I have no Nobel aspirations. There is no money to hire a lobbyist. Nobels have various political purposes.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi on June 21 on a two-day state visit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is the first bilateral visit by a head of government to India after the BJP-led coalition formed the government for the third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha elections.
Also, the visit was Sheikh Hasina's second visit to the Indian capital in less than 15 days, as she was among the dignitaries invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony on June 9.
During the Prime Minister's visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including seven new and three renewals, to further strengthen the growing relationship between the two neighboring countries.