Bangladesh celebrates PM Hasina’s 75th birthday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may be in the United States but her 75th birthday is being celebrated across Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28, 1947.

Like previous years, the ruling Awami League and its affiliated organisations are celebrating the day through various programs, highlighting her life and achievements.

Different programs, including discussions, doa and milad-mahfil, special prayers and photo exhibitions have been organized in the capital and elsewhere across the country marking her birthday.

Besides, another nationwide mass vaccination campaign began this morning, with a target to Inoculate eight million people on the occasion of her birthday.

As part of the Awami League's central programs, a discussion was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital at 10am.

Besides, doa and milad-mahfil have been arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and all other mosques throughout the country after Zahr prayers.

Special prayers have also been offered at International Buddhist Monastery (Bihar) in Merul Badda, Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB) Mirpur Baptist Church, Jakmala Rani Church in Tejgaon and Dhakeshwari Temple on the day. The central ruling party leaders were present at the events.

General Secretary Obaidul Quader also asked all the party's associate bodies, social and cultural organizations and their all-level leaders and activists to celebrate the day through different programs, including discussions, doa-mahfils and special prayers throughout the country. 

He also asked the leaders of all Awami League units up to the ward level to celebrate the day, taking up similar programs maintaining all Covid-19-safety protocols.

Sheikh Hasina assumed office on January 7 for the fourth time after her party-led grand alliance won the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.

She served as prime minister for the first time in 1996-2001, second term in 2009-2013, and the third term in 2014-2018. She served as the Leader of Opposition thrice.

She spent much of her childhood in her ancestral small hamlet in Tungipara. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, the family moved to Dhaka in 1954. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973.

Having a chequered political career, Hasina was elected vice-president of the Students Union of the Government Intermediate Girls College when she contested as a candidate from the Students League.

Later, she served as secretary and then as president of the college unit of the Student League. She was also a member of the Students League at Dhaka University and became the secretary of the Rokeya Hall unit. She actively participated in all mass movements during her student life.

Bangabandhu, along with the members of his family, was brutally assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time.

She was unanimously elected as the president of the Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence while she was in forced exile. She finally returned home on May 17, 1981, ending her six years in exile.

She faced the wrath of the then rulers on her return as she launched a movement to restore democracy in the country. The prime minister was detained time and again, and at least 22 bids were made on her life.