The daughter of Bongo Bondhu Shekh Mojibur Rahman,
Shekh Hasina's political career has spanned more than four decades. She previously served as opposition leader from 1986 to 1990 and from 1991 to 1995, as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001, and has been leading the Bangladesh Awami League since 1981.[1][2][3][4] In 2008, she returned as Prime Minister with a landslide victory. In January 2014, she became Prime Minister for a third term in an unopposed election, violating the key rules of the Constitution.
Hasina is one of the most powerful women in the world, ranking 30th on Forbes' list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017.[5] Hasina is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers.[6] In 2017 Hasina has been featured distinctively in a book named Women Presidents and Prime Ministers as one of the 18 current women national leaders of the world.[7]
Two of the most outstanding achievements of Sheikh Hasina are her leadership-roles and success behind the trials of Bangabandhu killers and the persons who committed crimes against humanity in 1971.
Hasina's second term (2009 to 2014) as Prime Minister is overshadowed by quite a few scandalous incidents. These include: Padma Bridge Scandal, Hallmark-Sonali Bank Scam, Share market Scandal, Rana Plaza collapse, and Railway Ministry bribery scandal.
For the better part of the last two decades, Hasina's chief rival has been BNP leader Khaleda Zia, and their rivalry is popularly known as the "Battle of Begums".[8][9][10] The two women have alternated as non-interim Prime Ministers since 1991.