Sheikh Hasina: Became PM four times in a row, ended 15 years of rule in 45 minutes; tackled the world's biggest refugee crisis

The 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and known as the Iron Lady, has ended. This was the fifth term of Hasina, who was the Prime Minister for four consecutive terms. Amidst the deteriorating situation, the army gave Hasina 45 minutes to leave the country. Thus Hasina's rule came to an end.

Sheikh Hasina's opponents also criticized her as an autocratic leader, but despite all this, she remained one of the longest-serving female heads of state in the world. Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister for the first time in 1996 and has been leading the country continuously since 2009. She was elected for the fourth consecutive time in January this year.

Born in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in September 1947, Hasina became active in politics in the 1960s while studying at Dhaka University.

When her father was in jail in the Pakistan government, Hasina worked as his political liaison outside. After Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, her father Mujibur Rahman became the country's president and then prime minister.

Father, mother, and three brothers murdered

In August 1975, Rahman, his wife, and their three sons were killed by military officers in their home. Hasina survived as she was abroad with her younger sister Sheikh Rihana.

Hasina, who spent six years in exile in India, was elected the leader of the Awami League, the party formed by her father. In 1981, Hasina returned home and became vocal about democracy in the military-ruled country. She was also placed under house arrest on several occasions.

Contested first election in 1991, became PM for the first time in 1996

The Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina failed to secure a majority in the 1991 general elections. Her rival Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) became prime minister. Five years later, Hasina was elected prime minister in the 1996 general elections. Although Hasina was voted out of power in the 2001 elections, she won a landslide victory in the 2008 elections and was sworn in as prime minister in 2009. Earlier in 2004, an attempt was made to assassinate her by exploding a grenade at her rally.

As soon as she became PM in 2009, a tribunal was set up to hear the 1971 war crimes cases

After coming to power in 2009, Hasina set up a tribunal to hear the 1971 war crimes cases. Some high-profile members of the opposition were found guilty, leading to violent protests. Islamist party and BNP's key ally Jamaat-e-Islami was banned from participating in elections in 2013. BNP chief Khaleda Zia was also sentenced to 17 years in prison on corruption charges.

Foreign media also considered her Iron Lady

Hasina led one of the world's fastest-growing economies in the last 15 years and improved the living standards of the people in Bangladesh. A media organization named her 'Iron Lady' several years ago and since then the Western media has called her by this name. Her supporters credit Hasina for pushing forward development projects and providing stability in the country.

Credit for skillful negotiation between India-China interests

Hasina is also credited with skillfully negotiating between the rival interests of India and China. Bangladesh is virtually trapped between the two Asian giants. Before the elections, she got the support of both big neighbors and Russia.

Credit for handling the world's largest refugee crisis

Hasina was also credited for handling the world's largest refugee crisis. More than one million Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in 2017 have taken refuge in Bangladesh.

Politics worsened over quota in jobs for the kin of 1971 war veterans

Six months after he was elected PM in 2024, massive protests broke out over a 30 percent quota in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters in 1971. More than 300 protesters were killed in the violence. Due to this, he had to step down dramatically.

Also Read: Bangladesh Protests: At least 300 people have died so far in Bangladesh due to violence, and curfew imposed across the country