Sheikh Hasina
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2013) Sheikh Hasina শ খ হ স ন Prime Minister of Bangladesh Incumbent Assumed office 6 January 2009 President Iajuddin Ahmed Zillur Rahman Abdul Hamid Preceded by Fakhruddin Ahmed (Acting) In office 23 June 1996 – 15 July 2001 President Abdur Rahman Biswas Shahabuddin Ahmed Preceded by Muhammad Habibur Rahman (Acting) Succeeded by Latifur Rahman (Acting) Leader of the Opposition In office 10 October 2001 – 29 October 2006 Preceded by Khaleda Zia Succeeded by Khaleda Zia In office 20 March 1991 – 30 March 1996 Preceded by Abdur Rab Succeeded by Khaleda Zia Leader of the Bangladesh Awami League Incumbent Assumed office 17 May 1981 Preceded by Asaduzzaman Khan Personal details Born (1947-09-28) 28 September 1947 (age 67) Tungipara, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan (now in Bangladesh) Political party Awami League Other political affiliations Grand Alliance (2008–present) Spouse(s) Wazed Miah (1968–2009) Children Sajeeb Wazed Joy Saima Wazed Putul Alma mater Eden Mohila College University of Dhaka Sheikh Hasina (Bengali: শ খ হ স ন ; English /ˈʃeɪx həˈsiːnə/, SHAYKH hə-SEE-nə; born 28 September 1947) is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in office since January 2009. She previously served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001, and she has led the Bangladesh Awami League since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first President of Bangladesh, and widow of the nuclear scientist M. A. Wazed Miah. She is also sometimes referred-to as Sheikh Hasina Wazed, her married name. Hasina's political career has spanned more than four decades during which she has been both Prime Minister and opposition leader. As opposition leader, she was the target of an assassination attempt in 2004. In 2007, she was arrested for corruption and charged with murder by the military-backed Caretaker Government during the 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, when the generals imposed a state of emergency. She returned as Prime Minister after a landslide victory for the Awami League-led Grand Alliance in 2008, when they took two-thirds of the seats in parliament. In January 2014 she became the prime minister for the third time after winning the 2014 parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the main opposition BNP-led alliance. Hasina is considered one of the most powerful women in the world, ranking 47th on Forbes' list of the 100 most powerful women in the world. For the better part of the last two decades, Hasina's chief rival has been BNP leader Khaleda Zia. The two women have alternated as non-interim Prime Ministers since 1991.