The Yunus Centre on Tuesday alleged the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was carrying out “smear campaign” against Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus to discredit the latter.
The centre came up with the allegation in a press statement issued in protest against a remark the prime minister made on 16 January.
In an oblique reference, Sheikh Hasina, while addressing a programme at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, said a former MD of a bank provoked high officials of the US government to threat the Bangladeshi PM to stop financing of Padma Bridge over his removal as managing director of the bank, according to the press release of the centre.
“We are saddened and frustrated by the baseless remarks made by the honourable prime minister,” read the statement.
The centre said it is out of question that professor Yunus encouraged the World Bank to cancel the Padma bridge loan. “He would never do such a thing against the interest of Bangladesh.”
It alleged, “Such unfair and unfounded smear campaign to discredit one of the most respected and celebrated Bangladeshis and his work is unfortunate.”
Terming prime minister’s repeated allegation “shocking”, the centre said the PM keeps repeating the allegation without ever presenting any proof in support of her allegation.
“There are important implications of honourable prime minister’s comments for the country and personally for Yunus. They create false impressions in the minds of people within and outside the country.”
The centre also regretted that same allegations keep on resurfacing.
Source: Prothom Alo