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 Hasina was born on Sept. 28, 1947, in the village of Tungipara. She is the
daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh to independence from
Pakistan in 1971 and instilled in his daughter a loyalty to her country. Hasina was
married in 1968 to M.A. Wazed Miah, an eminent Bangladeshi scientist. While at
the University of Dhaka in the late 1960s, she was active in politics and served
as her father’s political liaison while he was imprisoned by Pakistani rulers.
Hasina and other members of her family were also forced into captivity briefly in
1971 after they participated in an uprising during the liberation war. On Aug. 15,
1975, Hasina’s father, mother, and three brothers were assassinated in their
home by Bangladeshi military officers. Hasina spent six years in exile. During this
time she was elected to the leadership of the Awami League, the largest political
organization in Bangladesh.
On her return home in 1981, Hasina immersed
herself in the fight for democracy, which resulted in her being placed under
numerous house arrests. In December 1990 the last military leader of
Bangladesh, Lieut. Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad, resigned in disgrace
following an ultimatum that was issued by Hasina and supported by the
Bangladeshi people.
In the first general election in 1991, power was granted to
her opponent Khaleda Zia, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). On
June 12, 1996, Sheikh Hasina Wazed was elected prime minister of Bangladesh
replacing Zia.
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