PM says BNP can join polls-time cabinet
Dhaka, July 30 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said opposition BNP can join the interim cabinet to be constituted ahead of the next parliamentary polls.
"They (BNP) can table a proposal in parliament on this issue and we together can form a small cabinet and hold the election," she said during an interview with BBC Bangla published on its website on July 29.
Regarding her successor in politics, Hasina said she would not impose her decision on the party who would lead Awami League. "Awami league believes in democracy, everyone in the party accepts the decision that Awami League takes," she said.
In another interview with BBC Hard Talk, Sheikh Hasina said the World Bank could not provide graft evidence in favour of its allegations.
“Suddenly, they raised the issue. Then we – my finance minister and I, personally asked them, okay you give the proof. But they couldn’t place any substantial proof that there is corruption, they didn’t.”
Replying to a question, Hasina said there was no irregularity in the Padma bridge project.
She also said one minister resigned as many people started accusing him. “He has done a brave thing. Had he been involved in this corruption, perhaps he would not have resigned.”
About the opposition’s claim that the World Bank letter points at her and other senior figures of her government, she said: “You can point anybody and the opposition can do it. It’s the opposition job.”
She mentioned that the Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating it and they asked the World Bank to send all the documents and they refused to send it.
“Now my question is why they denied? If they have substantial proof why they denied to send all the papers and documents they have? They are not supplying, I personally want it.”
She recalled that the World Bank at first had placed two letters to her, but that was not related to her government. “I pointed out this was the previous government. So you give me the proof. Twice they did it but they could not prove. So, unnecessarily you cannot just accuse one without substantial proof - that is important.”
When her attention was drawn that she called Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus as ‘a bloodsucker of the poor’ she said she did not mentioned his name. “I didn’t. I said someone. But why it occurred in your mind,” she questioned.
“But”, she said, “I’m not denying anything. I’m putting a question to you, why it occurred in your mind that it is him? Why?”
She also criticised Grameen Bank for the huge interest imposed by it. “Taking interest 40 percent, 30 percent or 45 percent from these poor people – is it fair? It’s not. How can these poor people stand by themselves? If you lend money and take 35 to 45 percent interest, it’s a shame.”
She wanted to know how many people come out of poverty because of Grameen Bank.
Hasina claimed that poverty reduction was done by her government. “Within three years, we reduced 10 percent poverty. So, it’s our government. And about this Grameen Bank, it is a government statutory body.”
About removing Prof Yunus from Grameen Bank, she said, “I didn’t oust him from the Grameen Bank, he himself did it.”
She also said her government ensured the democratic rights of people though constitutional change.
“We amended the constitution that ensured democratic right of people, fundamental right of people because unconstitutional or authoritarian government cannot come in the future, they cannot capture power illegally we make sure in the constitution. And that we ensure our people's democratic right,” the premier told the BBC
"They (BNP) can table a proposal in parliament on this issue and we together can form a small cabinet and hold the election," she said during an interview with BBC Bangla published on its website on July 29.
Regarding her successor in politics, Hasina said she would not impose her decision on the party who would lead Awami League. "Awami league believes in democracy, everyone in the party accepts the decision that Awami League takes," she said.
In another interview with BBC Hard Talk, Sheikh Hasina said the World Bank could not provide graft evidence in favour of its allegations.
“Suddenly, they raised the issue. Then we – my finance minister and I, personally asked them, okay you give the proof. But they couldn’t place any substantial proof that there is corruption, they didn’t.”
Replying to a question, Hasina said there was no irregularity in the Padma bridge project.
She also said one minister resigned as many people started accusing him. “He has done a brave thing. Had he been involved in this corruption, perhaps he would not have resigned.”
About the opposition’s claim that the World Bank letter points at her and other senior figures of her government, she said: “You can point anybody and the opposition can do it. It’s the opposition job.”
She mentioned that the Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating it and they asked the World Bank to send all the documents and they refused to send it.
“Now my question is why they denied? If they have substantial proof why they denied to send all the papers and documents they have? They are not supplying, I personally want it.”
She recalled that the World Bank at first had placed two letters to her, but that was not related to her government. “I pointed out this was the previous government. So you give me the proof. Twice they did it but they could not prove. So, unnecessarily you cannot just accuse one without substantial proof - that is important.”
When her attention was drawn that she called Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus as ‘a bloodsucker of the poor’ she said she did not mentioned his name. “I didn’t. I said someone. But why it occurred in your mind,” she questioned.
“But”, she said, “I’m not denying anything. I’m putting a question to you, why it occurred in your mind that it is him? Why?”
She also criticised Grameen Bank for the huge interest imposed by it. “Taking interest 40 percent, 30 percent or 45 percent from these poor people – is it fair? It’s not. How can these poor people stand by themselves? If you lend money and take 35 to 45 percent interest, it’s a shame.”
She wanted to know how many people come out of poverty because of Grameen Bank.
Hasina claimed that poverty reduction was done by her government. “Within three years, we reduced 10 percent poverty. So, it’s our government. And about this Grameen Bank, it is a government statutory body.”
About removing Prof Yunus from Grameen Bank, she said, “I didn’t oust him from the Grameen Bank, he himself did it.”
She also said her government ensured the democratic rights of people though constitutional change.
“We amended the constitution that ensured democratic right of people, fundamental right of people because unconstitutional or authoritarian government cannot come in the future, they cannot capture power illegally we make sure in the constitution. And that we ensure our people's democratic right,” the premier told the BBC
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