Sheikh Hasina: Leader Who Defied Erstwhile Military Rule, Reshaped Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina, who first became prime minister in 1996, has faced major challenges during her tenure.

Her leadership saw Bangladesh transition from military rule, but it has also been marked by mass arrests of political opponents and human rights concerns.

Since July, university student-led protests against civil service job quotas have evolved into widespread unrest.

These demonstrations are some of the worst in her 15-year rule, with opponents demanding her resignation.

Initially peaceful, the protests turned violent following attacks by police and pro-government groups, drawing international criticism.

Despite political turmoil, Hasina's tenure has seen remarkable economic growth. Bangladesh's economy has grown over 6% annually since 2009. Poverty rates have dropped significantly, and over 95% of the population now has access to electricity. In 2021, Bangladesh's per capita income even surpassed India's.

Hasina's government has also been praised for its response to the Rohingya refugee crisis.

In 2017, she opened Bangladesh's borders to hundreds of thousands fleeing military violence in Myanmar. Additionally, her decisive actions against Islamist militants after a deadly attack in Dhaka in 2016 earned her international acclaim.

Hasina's political journey began after returning from exile following the assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She led the Awami League party and joined forces with Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to oust military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1990. However, their alliance soon turned into a bitter rivalry that has dominated Bangladeshi politics.

In 2007, both Hasina and Zia were imprisoned on corruption charges following a military-backed coup.

They were released to contest elections the next year, which Hasina won decisively. Since then, she has remained in power while Zia faces health issues and a lengthy prison sentence due to graft charges.

Critics accuse Hasina's government of suppressing dissent through various means. Over the past decade, five top Islamist leaders and a senior opposition figure were executed for crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war. These trials sparked mass protests and deadly clashes as opponents claimed they were politically motivated.

The United States imposed sanctions on an elite branch of Bangladesh's security forces in 2021 due to widespread human rights abuses. Despite mounting protests at home and international concern, Hasina remained steadfast in her leadership.

"Over 15 years, I've built this country," she told reporters last month while touring areas damaged during recent unrest in Dhaka. "What didn't I do for the people?"