Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday invited Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to a debate with her on issues concerning him.

“There is nothing to be jealous of. He may come and have a debate with me as is done in the USA,” she said.

The premier said while replying to a question at the press conference arranged in Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her India visit.

She said Yunus availed most financial and other benefits from her. “It is right; we promoted him very much,” she added.

“Sheikh Hasina feels no jealousy with anyone. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. None can come up at least to this position. I feel proud of it,” she said, adding that the prime ministership is a temporary thing.

The PM said she always protects the interest of the country. “I never sell the country or the interests of the country (to anyone),” she said.

Hasina said she has been working always for the protection of the country’s independence and sovereignty, and for the people of the country so that they can move, raising their heads high.

Pointing at the countries which are vocal on the issue of Yunus, the PM questioned what action they would have taken if anyone evades taxes years after years and if anyone embezzles the money of the Labour welfare fund and doesn’t pay the dues of the workers.

“He hasn't paid a single penny to the Labour welfare fund since 2006,” she said.

She said the workers filed a case with the Labour court and he was convicted in that case. “What is my fault here?” asked Hasina.

She said Grameen Bank was established during the regime of HM Ershad and Dr Yunus was made its Managing Director. “But he didn't (establish) this bank himself,” she added.

She said he used to do a job as the managing director and drew the salary at the bank which is a statutory organisation. The salary and other things were provided from the government, she went on. 

But a campaign was done in such a way as if he (Dr Yunus) had established this bank, said Hasina. 

She noted that Yunus' microcredit scheme was not acceptable as  the borrowers  had to pay upto 40-45 percent interest for loans.

She questioned why the poverty was not alleviated with his microcredit scheme in the country when it was so effective.

“It is I who alleviated poverty in Bangladesh. I brought down the poverty rate to 18.7 percent from 41.6 in only 15 years,” said the premier.

I’ve no desire for Nobel prize: 

Sheikh Hasina said she has no conflict with anyone and never has a desire to get a Nobel Prize. 

Citing her role for the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in1997, Sheikh Hasina said it was a unique peace accord as some 1800 armed persons surrendered and submitted their arms.

She said many noted personalitie at home and abroad wrote for giving her the Nobel Prize after the peace accord, but she never wented to tell them such, she said.

“When the MD of a bank obtains a Nobel prize, why would I go to contest with him,” she asked.

The PM went to New Delhi on June 21 on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha elections.

During the visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 7 Memorandums of Understanding and renewed three others to further consolidate the ever-growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

Awami League general secretary and also road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, PM’s Private Industry and Invest Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, AL presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP and Kazi Zafarullah were on the dais. 

PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan conducted the press conference.