Hasina dares Khaleda to come out clean in corruption cases

Sheikh Hasina has dared her arch political rival Khaleda Zia to prove in court that she did not steal money from the fund for orphans.

The prime minister made the suggestion at a meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee at Ganabhaban on Friday evening.

Regarding the corruption cases against the BNP chief, the Awami League president said, "It’s alright if she wants to make money. But why steal orphans' money?"

"She stole that money and we are being blamed."

The Awami League chief said, "The BNP had special agents investigate our ties to corruption after coming to power in 2001."

Even the World Bank tried to find corruption in the Padma bridge project and “make us look like corrupt”. But the multinational lending agency failed, she added.

"The cases against me filed during the caretaker government's regime were false. Investigations were conducted. They (BNP) did, the caretaker government did and the World Bank did as well. But nothing came out."

"And when evidence of corruption has been found against someone, that person looks for our corruption. This is ridiculous."

Hasina asked Khaleda to prove that she was innocent by fighting the corruption cases in court.

"Let it be proved in court that you didn't steal the money meant for the orphans."