Following years of autocratic rule, widespread protests and strikes disrupted Bangladesh’s economy. Government officials refused orders, Bangladesh Rifles members refused to fire on protestors, and curfews were openly defied. Hasina and Khaleda Zia united against Ershad’s regime, organizing opposition that culminated in a massive December 1990 protest ousting Ershad. He resigned in favor of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, leading to a caretaker government’s administration of a general election.

Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a majority, with Hasina’s Awami League becoming the primary opposition party. Despite Hasina’s defeat in two of three contested constituencies, she offered her resignation as party president but continued at the party’s request.

In 1994, a significant by-election in Magura-2 shifted Bangladesh’s political landscape. Despite expectations of an Awami League victory, the BNP candidate won through alleged rigging and manipulation, leading to the League’s boycott of parliament. Tensions between Hasina and Zia escalated following this event.

First premiership (1996–2001)

During her first term as Prime Minister from June 1996 to July 2001, Sheikh Hasina oversaw significant developments and reforms in Bangladesh.

Under her leadership, a landmark 30-year water-sharing treaty with India for the Ganges River was signed. The government repealed the Indemnity Act, enabling the prosecution of those involved in Sheikh Mujib’s assassination. Telecommunications were liberalized, opening the industry to private entities and disbanding the previous state monopoly, leading to reduced prices and increased accessibility.

The administration made strides in various sectors, signing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, ending insurgency in that region. The Ashrayan-1 Project provided shelter and employment for the homeless, and the Bangabandhu Bridge mega project was completed. Economic reforms, including the New Industrial Policy, aimed at bolstering the private sector and attracting foreign investment, fostering globalization.

Efforts were made towards poverty alleviation through programs providing credit and training for unemployed youths and women, resulting in increased food-grain production and reduced poverty rates. A social security system was initiated, granting allowances to the elderly, widows, distressed, and deserted women. The National Policy for Women’s Advancement aimed at ensuring gender equality and socio-economic development for women.

Hasina’s government engaged internationally, attending various summits and conferences worldwide, joining multilateral bodies like BIMSTEC and D-8. She became the first Prime Minister to complete a full five-year term since Bangladesh’s independence.

In the 2001 general election, despite winning 40% of the popular vote, the AL faced electoral defeat amid claims of rigging, leading to the formation of a government by the ‘Four Party Alliance’ led by BNP.

Throughout her tenure, Sheikh Hasina’s government implemented reforms, initiated key projects, and engaged in both domestic and international affairs, leaving a significant mark on Bangladesh’s trajectory.

Leader of the Opposition (2001–2006)

During this time, there were irregularities in the attendance of Awami League MPs in parliament. In late 2003, the Awami League initiated a significant anti-government movement. The party’s general secretary, Abdul Jolil, declared that the government would collapse before April 30, 2004. However, this prediction did not materialize, dealing a setback to the party and Sheikh Hasina, who had offered implicit support to Jolil.

Detention during military intervention (2006–2008)

In the lead-up to the planned January 22, 2007 elections, Bangladesh witnessed escalating political turmoil. After the end of Khaleda Zia’s government in October 2006, protests and strikes erupted, causing around 40 casualties due to uncertainty over the caretaker government’s leadership. Amidst difficulty in uniting all parties, allegations surfaced that the caretaker government favored the BNP, triggering violence and strikes.

Efforts by Presidential Advisor Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury to bring parties to the scheduled elections faced obstacles. However, complications arose when the nomination of Ershad was revoked due to a corruption case, prompting the Grand Alliance to withdraw its candidates and demand a published voters’ roll.

Subsequently, President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency in late January, leading to Lt General Moeen Uddin Ahmed assuming control. Political activities were banned, and Fakhruddin Ahmed became chief advisor with military support.

During this period, Sheikh Hasina visited the US embassy before departing to the United States and later the United Kingdom. In April 2007, she faced corruption charges by the military-backed caretaker government. Attempts were made to prevent her return to Bangladesh, resulting in an arrest warrant and subsequent suspension, eventually allowing her return after 51 days abroad.

However, upon her return, Hasina was arrested in July 2007, accused of extortion and denied bail. The arrest was deemed politically motivated by the AL. The Anti-Corruption Commission instructed both Hasina and Khaleda Zia to disclose their assets.

Despite legal battles and additional charges against Hasina, including allegations of orchestrating a murder, the High Court suspended her extortion trial and ordered her release on bail in July 2007. Further cases were filed against her, and on January 13, 2008, she was indicted on extortion charges alongside relatives.

Amid ongoing legal proceedings, Hasina was released on parole in June 2008 for medical reasons and traveled to the US for treatment. The caretaker government conducted mayoral elections during this time, and the AL secured victories, extending Hasina’s medical parole by an additional month.

Second premiership (2009–present)

Second term (2009–2014)

On November 6, 2008, Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh for the impending general election. Aligning with the Jatiya Party under Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s leadership, she formed the “Grand Alliance” and unveiled a manifesto promising a “Digital Bangladesh” by 2021.

The AL’s “A Charter for Change” outlined commitments to combat inflation, strengthen anti-corruption measures, boost power generation, revive agriculture, ensure good governance, curb extremism, seek justice for 1971 war crimes, reform the judiciary, and depoliticize administration.

The Grand Alliance secured a sweeping victory in the 2008 election, claiming 230 of 299 seats. Despite Khaleda Zia’s rejection, independent observers lauded the peaceful conduct of the elections. Hasina began her second term as prime minister on January 6, 2009.

Post-election, Hasina deviated from her pact with the Jatiya Party on Ershad’s presidency and ousted pro-reform Awami League members.

Her tenure faced hurdles, including the Bangladesh Rifles revolt in 2009 over pay disputes, resulting in casualties. Initial criticism of her response was later commended for averting further violence.

Her government faced ICC accusations for alleged human rights violations and was lauded for achieving UN Millennium Development Goals. She thwarted a 2012 coup attempt and encountered conflict with Muhammad Yunus over Grameen Bank’s control due to a fund transfer dispute.

Additionally, her administration established the International Crimes Tribunal to probe the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide perpetrators.

Throughout her second term, Hasina’s administration grappled with diverse challenges while navigating complex relationships and controversies.

Third term (2014–2019)

Securing her second consecutive term, Sheikh Hasina triumphed in the 2014 general election alongside her ruling Awami League and its Grand Alliance partners. Despite the boycott from major opposition parties citing unfair conditions, her coalition clinched a substantial victory, winning 267 seats, with 153 uncontested and 127 won by default.

The election was marred by controversy, marked with violence and accusations of ballot stuffing. Although voter turnout was low at 51%, Hasina defended the election’s legitimacy, emphasizing public participation and the involvement of other parties.

Following the election, despite the discord, Hasina formed a government with Ershad’s Jatiya Party, which secured 34 seats, becoming the official opposition.

During this period, Bangladesh faced escalating assaults from Islamic extremist groups, culminating in the tragic July 2016 Dhaka attack, regarded as the deadliest Islamist attack in the country’s history. Experts attributed the rise of these groups to the shrinking democratic space and the government’s crackdown on political opposition, generating a violent reaction from Islamist factions.

In a proactive move, Hasina’s government commissioned Bangladesh’s first two submarines in March 2017. Furthermore, she offered aid and sanctuary to nearly a million Rohingya refugees in September 2017, urging Myanmar to cease violence against the Rohingya community. Her empathetic response gained widespread support and appreciation from the Bangladeshi populace.

However, there were instances where Hasina faced criticism, notably for supporting the removal of the Statue of Justice from the Supreme Court premises, seen as a concession to religiously motivated political pressure.

As a patron of the Asian University for Women, Hasina has aligned herself with esteemed figures such as Chancellor Cherie Blair and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, showcasing her commitment to education and women’s empowerment.

Fourth term (2019–present)

Sheikh Hasina clinched her third successive term, marking her fourth overall win as her Awami League triumphed by securing an overwhelming 288 out of 300 parliamentary seats. Despite opposition leader Kamal Hossain dismissing the vote as “farcical” and rejecting the results, multiple rights organizations.

Including Human Rights Watch, criticized the government for fostering an intimidating environment prior to the election. The New York Times editorial board also labeled the election as farcical, questioning the necessity of vote-rigging in a contest where Hasina was likely to win without such tactics.The primary opposition, BNP, faced a major setback, securing just eight seats after boycotting the 2014 election.

Their Jatiya Oikya Front alliance was sidelined, marking the weakest opposition since Bangladesh’s post-Ershad democratic revival in 1991.

In May 2021, Hasina inaugurated the new headquarters for the Bangladesh Post Office, Dak Bhaban, emphasizing its development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans included continuing digital transformation and installing cooling units in postal warehouses for mailing perishable items.

January 2022 saw the enactment of a law establishing the Universal Pension Scheme, allowing all Bangladeshi citizens aged 18 to 60 to receive a monthly stipend.

However, economic challenges surfaced with Bangladesh’s external debt reaching $95.86 billion by fiscal year 2021–22 end, a substantial increase from 2011. The banking sector faced significant irregularities, evidenced by default loans soaring from less than ৳23000 crore (US$2.1 billion) in 2009 to over ৳250000 crore (US$23 billion) in 2019, according to the IMF.

Amid depleting foreign-exchange reserves due to Russia-Ukraine conflict sanctions, the Finance Ministry sought IMF fiscal assistance in July 2022. By November 2022, the IMF agreed on a staff-level agreement to extend a US$4.7 billion support package for macroeconomic stability, aiding vulnerable populations and fostering inclusive green growth.

December 2022 witnessed anti-government protests over escalating costs and calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Nonetheless, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Dhaka Metro Rail’s first phase, the nation’s inaugural mass-rapid transit system, on December 28.

During the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit, Hasina engaged with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand India-Bangladesh cooperation in connectivity and commercial ties. Her daughter, Saima Wazed, accompanying her, participated in a WHO election candidacy. The summit proved crucial for reinforcing Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations and interactions with global leaders.

Personal life

In 1968, Hasina married M. A. Wazed Miah, a Bangladeshi physicist, writer, and chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. She has a son, Sajeeb Wazed, and a daughter, Saima Wazed. Saima’s father-in-law is a former minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and LGRD, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Hasina’s only living sibling, Sheikh Rehana, served as the adviser of Tungipara upazila unit Awami League in Gopalganj in 2017. Hasina’s niece, Tulip Siddiq, is a UK politician serving as Member of Parliament for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency.

Throughout her political career, Sheikh Hasina has survived a total of 19 assassination attempts. Hasina suffers from a hearing impairment due to injuries sustained during the 2004 grenade attack.