DHAKA, March 28 -- Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday described Yunus Centre's "lying" and Professor Muhammad Yunus' receiving an award from an Israeli sculptor "very unfortunate."

"I am very surprised.....it's very unfortunate," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said there was no single word of protest from Prof Yunus when people including children and women are killed in Gaza and when there is crimes against humanity.

"In this situation in Gaza, Prof Yunus received an award from an Israeli. What is this? What does it mean? Is it not supporting Israeli killings in Gaza?" Hasan asked.

He said Prof Yunus was not awarded by the UNESCO but it was lies spread by Yunus Centre.

Hasan said it is not the first t...