Sheikh Hasina Wazed came to politics naturally as the daughter of Bangladesh’s first president. However, Wazed had to fight to be allowed back into the country her father had helped to establish. Wazed’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, fought for Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan, a battle that led him to his role of Prime Minister, and later cost him his life.
In August of 1975, Wazed was residing in Germany with her husband, a nuclear physicist, when a military coup d’état took control of Bangladesh and Wazed’s father, mother, and three brothers were assassinated. A few months later, Wazed moved to New Delhi, where she was granted political asylum.
In 1981, while still living in exile in India, Wazed was elected leader of Bangladesh’s Awami League (AL). Her leadership role in this left-leaning party allowed her to return to her homeland for what would become a decades-long career in politics.
The AL took a strong stance opposing Bangladesh’s autocratic rule, and stood with several other parties which demanded general elections be held under a neutral caretaker government. Wazed ended up winning the election in 1996 to become the first prime minister of Bangladesh since its independence from Pakistan, a position she held until 2001.
While in office, she signed a water-sharing act with India, expanded the telecom industry into the private sector, and started the New Industrial Policy (NIP), which would build up the private sector and strengthen the country’s economy for years to come. She is currently serving her fourth term (and third consecutive term) as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She is the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh and is one of only four current female heads of state in Asia. In December of 2021, she became the longest-serving female head of government in the world.
At 75 years old, Wazed believes this term will be her final one. She has turned her focus from industry and privatization to more humanitarian needs. Before she leaves office, she hopes to increase food security for her citizens and provide greater access to healthcare and education.