My Father My Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina is a farsighted leader in Bangladesh politics and is widely acknowledged as an idealist. She has been the President of Bangladesh Awami League since 1981. Under her leadership, the largest political party of the country came back to power in 1996 after a long break of 21 years. She took oath of office as the Prime Minister for the second time in 2009, third time in 2014 and a fourth time after her party Awami League-led grand alliance won the December 30, 2018 making her the longest serving Prime Minister of the country Hasina believes in democracy, secularism, progress and development, and has dedicated her life to eliminate poverty and the barriers that marginalize people. The daughter of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina was born on 28 September 1947 at Tungipara in Gopalganj district. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973. She had been active in politics from her student life and participated in all mass movements in the country. Hasina played a crucial role in the historic mass movement against the autocratic regime in the 1980s. After the collapse of the regime, she steered the political parties towards changing the presidential system of government to a parliamentary one. She is a staunch crusader against fundamentalism, militancy and terrorism. Under her leadership, the people of Bangladesh regained their democratic rights and the freedom of speech. The country achieved tremendous success in socio-economic fronts, thus earning the status of a lower middle-income country. Her government's landmark achievements include the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, resolution of the 68-year long border dispute with India and maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India, the Peace Accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts and the trial of crimes against humanity perpetrated during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. Reputed universities and institutions across the world have conferred honorary degrees upon Sheikh Hasina in recognition for her outstanding contributions to peace building, upholding democracy and ensuring socio-economic development. Hasina was conferred honorary doctorates by Boston University, Bridgeport University, Barry University in the USA; Waseda University in Japan; University of Abertay in Scotland; Vishwa-Bharati University and Tripura University in India; Australian National University, Catholic University of Brussels in Belgium; People's Friendship University and State University of Petersburg in Russia; University of Dhaka and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University in Bangladesh, among others.