Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina Wazed (born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who twice served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2009 until her resignation in 2024. She is Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister and the longest-serving female head of government in history. A daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh, she has also served as president of the Awami League since 1981.

Born to the Sheikh family of Tungipara in Gopalganj, Hasina had little presence in politics prior to the assassination of her father in 1975. After years in exile, she returned to Bangladesh in 1981, leading the Awami League in opposition to military rule. Alongside Khaleda Zia, her future longtime political rival in what was termed the Battle of Begums, she played a key role in the 1990 mass uprising that restored parliamentary democracy. After serving as Leader of the Opposition from 1991 to 1996, she won the June 1996 general election, beginning her first term as prime minister. She served as Leader of the Opposition again from 2001 to 2006, before winning a second term at the 2008 general election.

Hasina's second premiership was marked by significant economic and infrastructural development, as well as democratic backsliding, enforced disappearances, human rights abuses and restrictions on political opposition and press freedom. Under Hasina's rule, the Bangladeshi political system was transformed into an authoritarian dictatorship with a cult of personality around his father and other members of the family. Critics accused her government of consolidating power, corruption and embezzlement of foreign reserves. Observers raised serious allegations of electoral irregularities in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 general elections.

In July 2024, security forces led by the Awami League repressed a students quota reform movement, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 protesters. The movement subsequently coalesced into an uprising and non-cooperation movement, leading to her resignation and exile to India and bringing an end to her 15-year premiership. In November 2025, she was convicted in absentia by the Bangladeshi International Crimes Tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity, including ordering lethal force against protesters, and sentenced to death, which she rejected as politically motivated.