Who is Sheikh Hasina? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Sheikh Hasina Wazed

Age: 77 Years, 77 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: M. A. Wazed Miah

father: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

mother: Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib

siblings: Sheikh Kamal

children: Saima Wazed Hossain Putul, Sajeeb Wazed

Born Country: Bangladesh

Prime Ministers Political Leaders

political ideology: Awami League

Notable Alumni: Eden Mohila College

Ideology: Democrats

More Facts

education: University Of Dhaka, Eden Mohila College

awards: Indira Gandhi Prize

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1

What are the major achievements of Sheikh Hasina during her time as Prime Minister of Bangladesh?

Some of the major achievements of Sheikh Hasina during her tenure as Prime Minister include economic growth, infrastructure development, poverty reduction, and improvements in healthcare and education.
2

How has Sheikh Hasina contributed to promoting women's rights in Bangladesh?

Sheikh Hasina has been a strong advocate for women's rights in Bangladesh and has taken several initiatives to empower women, including enacting laws to protect women against domestic violence and promoting women's participation in politics and the workforce.
3

What is Sheikh Hasina's stance on environmental issues and climate change?

Sheikh Hasina has been vocal about the importance of addressing environmental issues and climate change. She has championed various environmental initiatives, including promoting renewable energy and taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change in Bangladesh.
4

How has Sheikh Hasina's leadership impacted the relationship between Bangladesh and other countries?

Sheikh Hasina's leadership has played a significant role in strengthening Bangladesh's relationships with other countries. She has focused on fostering diplomatic ties, promoting trade and investment, and enhancing cooperation in various fields with other nations.
5

What is Sheikh Hasina's approach to tackling corruption in Bangladesh?

Sheikh Hasina has taken a strong stance against corruption in Bangladesh and has implemented various anti-corruption measures, including establishing anti-corruption commissions, introducing transparency initiatives, and cracking down on corrupt practices in government institutions.

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Childhood & Early Life

This leader was born on September 28, 1947 into a life of turmoil and violence. Her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was integral in the movement to separate Bangladesh from Pakistan and also became the first President of Bangladesh.

While simultaneously studying at the University of Dhaka in the 1960s, she worked as her father’s political liaison while he was imprisoned.

On August 15, 1975 she was met with unfortunate tragedy. Her father, mother, and three brothers were all murdered in their home by military officers. As a result, she went into lonely exile for the next six years.

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Career

In 1981, she returned to Bangladesh and became a strong advocate for democracy. She was elected to lead the ‘Awami League Party’ in February. Unfortunately, her unpopular opinions put her under house arrest or in prison for most of the decade.

In 1990, through a constitutional process, she offered General Ershad, who had gained power through a coup and led though martial law, a 24-hour ultimatum which ultimately led to him to quit.

In the elections that followed, her party, the ‘Bangladesh Nationalist Party’ (BNP) convinced the government to change from one of complete executive control to one where the Parliament was supreme and the executive party more accountable.

Her next task was to create an equal voting process. Prior to her pushing voting as a basic human and political right in 1996, elections were generally falsified through selective voting lists, predetermined votes, and a slanted counting process. An amendment for neutral and free elections was passed the same year.

On June 23rd, 1996, she was elected and sworn in as the second female Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Throughout her term, the country continued to be in political, often violent, chaos.

In 2001, she lost the election and political turmoil only got worse. There were violent protests and strikes, grenade attacks, and extreme political unrest. She led the party opposing the government for the next seven years.

During her tenure in the opposition she became the target of an assassination attempt in 2004. The grenade attack aimed at her resulted in the death of 21 fellow ‘Awami League’ members.

In 2007, the government declared a state of emergency and further canceled parliamentary elections. At the same time, Hasina was arrested on charges of extortion and murder. She was not released until a year later for medical concerns.

In 2009, she was elected as Prime Minister once again. Like her first term, she was forced to confront major revolts and civil unrest.

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She continues to serve as Prime Minister today after winning again in 2014. She remains dedicated to creating a government in which democracy and civil liberties can flourish.

Major Works

The most significant move of her career was the signing of the ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord’ in December 1997. The treaty was an agreement between Bangladeshi government and the ‘Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti’, a political organization armed with a militia. The peace agreement ended decades of violence, confrontation, and hostility between the government and the tribes of the region.

Awards & Achievements

In 1997, alongside the Queen of Spain and the United States First Lady Hilary Clinton, she was invited to co-chair the ‘Micro-credit Summit’ which became an important humanitarian movement.

In 1998, she was awarded the ‘Mother Teresa Award’ by the ‘All India Peace Council’. She was given the award for her peace efforts involving the tribes of Bangladesh and her efforts to prohibit the use of anti-personnel mines, the first country in South Asia to make this move.

In 1998, she was also awarded the ‘M K Gandhi Award’ in Norway’s ‘Mahatma M K Gandhi Foundation’. She received the honor for her significant contribution to promoting peaceful understanding and democracy in Bangladesh.

Personal Life & Legacy

She married in 1968 to a prominent Bengali scientist, M.A. Wazed Miah. Together the couple had one son and one daughter.

Her son, Sajeeb Wazad, follows her footsteps remaining active in the ‘Awami League’. It is rumored his net worth is over $1 billion, making him one of the richest men in Bangladesh.

Facts About Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina is known for her love of gardening and has a passion for cultivating flowers and plants in her spare time.

She is a strong advocate for women's rights and has worked tirelessly to empower women and promote gender equality in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina is a skilled cook and enjoys preparing traditional Bangladeshi dishes for her family and friends.

She is an avid reader and has a diverse taste in literature, ranging from poetry to political biographies.

Sheikh Hasina is an animal lover and has been known to adopt stray dogs and cats, providing them with a loving home at her residence.

Sheikh Hasina Biography

You wanted to know

What are the major achievements of Sheikh Hasina during her time as Prime Minister of Bangladesh?

How has Sheikh Hasina contributed to promoting women's rights in Bangladesh?

What is Sheikh Hasina's stance on environmental issues and climate change?

How has Sheikh Hasina's leadership impacted the relationship between Bangladesh and other countries?

What is Sheikh Hasina's approach to tackling corruption in Bangladesh?