Sheikh Hasina: World’s longest serving female leader

According to a recent survey by Wiki Leaks, Sheikh Hasina has become an icon of resurrection of women. Initially she became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. Then she came back to power in 2008. In all the national elections held thereafter she led her party Awami League to a landslide victory. The national election held on December 30, 2018 saw her party winning maximum number of seats in the parliament. As a result Sheikh Hasina became the Prime Minister for three consecutive terms on January 7, 2019.

Sheikh Hasina has already completed 15 years as Prime Minister and is now into the first year of her fourth 5-year term. She has exceeded the records of famed female heads of government including Indira Gandhi of India, Margaret Thatcher of Britain and Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on the top of female heads of state. Assuming power in November 2005 Merkel  is still running Germany. Sheikh Hasina is holding the post of Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fourth time including thrice at a stretch.

Thatcher ruled Britain for more than 11 years from 1979 till November 28, 1990. Indira Gandhi ruled India for over 15 years at different times. Chadrika Kumartunga performed duties as both Prime Minister and President for 11 years and seven days.

Four longest serving female heads of states and governments are well known and they include Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel and Sheikh Hasina. All these leaders  gave a new direction and new possibilities to their respective countries.

After assuming power for the fourth time Sheikh Hasina has crossed the records of other female leaders of the world. Bangladesh has achieved a great deal of socio-economic advancement in the last couple of years under leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Per capita income in Bangladesh has now mounted to 1900 Dollars which remained much below one thousand Dollars just a few years back. She has led the country to witness the economy growing at a record space. Her visionary approaches to women empowerment earned her global acclamation.

Bangladesh has recently graduated from the Least Developed Country (LDC) during Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.  She has succeeded in transforming the ‘bottomless basket’ Bangladesh into a middle-income country. She gave the people the dream of Digital Bangladesh – an IT based country. Digital technologies have reached the doorsteps of the people of the country as a result of the Government’s Digital Bangladesh initiative.

She brought solace for the country’s three million martyrs and their families by initiating war crimes trial and bringing the war criminals of 1971 to justice. Bangladesh’s first satellite ‘Bangabandhu 1 ‘ was launched into space in 2018 which is another breakthrough of Sheikh Hasina’s government.   She is held in high esteem in the country and perceived as the sole repository of the liberation war legacies and custodian of the 1971 liberation war spirit.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sheikh Hasina is now making the best of her efforts to transform Bangladesh into a prosperous and rich country by implementing her Vision 2021 and Vision 2041.

Bangladesh has now become a role model for development. All countries now view Bangladesh with awe and admiration as a brilliant example. Different international organizations have awarded prestigious prizes to Sheikh Hasina in recognition of the dexterity with which she has been serving Bangladesh.