Summary :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina holds a place among the more distinguished in the history of Bangladesh. Her political struggle in the defence of democracy has placed her in a unique position, one which accords her the dignity which comes with being in the forefront of popular movement and then emerging triumphant as a result of the struggle. She brings to her career a rich array of experience. The years of struggle between 1981 and 1996 saw her personality and her politics shape themselves in a rising crescendo of movement dedicated to the fulfilment of popular aspirations. It goes to her credit that the success which the people of Bangladesh have today achieved is the direct offshoot of her ability to bring the people of Bangladesh together in the spirit of political struggle. Today, Sheikh Hasina verily symbolises the unity of the Bengali nation. As the prime political figure in contemporary Bangladesh politics, Sheikh Hasina brings to her career a richness and a sense of dedication clearly unmatched and therefore unique. Her sustained struggle in favour of democracy, especially in the years when the democratic structure came under relentless assault from forces extra-constitutional or unconstitutional in nature, has given the country's political canvas a substance that can only deepen the originality of its politics. As the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina grew up in a wholly political setting. Her education, as is obvious, was in the comfortable, confidence-inducing shade of her illustrious father. Following the tragedy of August 1975, the aspirations of the people were laid waste as the coterie holding the reins of authority thought it proper to ignore such aspirations. It was against this manifest intention of curbing popular hopes and in the interest of ensuring the rights of food and franchise that Sheikh Hasina went into the business of political struggle. It was her leadership which proved instrumental in the establishment of parliamentary democracy in the country. A special characteristic of Sheikh Hasina's personality is the sense of values she brings to bear in her pursuit of politics. It is as a result of her political approach that Sheikh Hasina is today committed to the task of ameliorating the misery in which the people of Bangladesh have for years eked out an existence. As an ideal woman moulded on traditional Bengali heritage, Sheikh Hasina has taken upon herself the responsibility of effecting a transformation in the lives of her people. This task acquired increased meaning for her once the ideals of the War of Liberation came under threat through the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. Sheikh Hasina's entry into formal politics in 1981 was the mom the rise of new hope among the people of Bangladesh. She knew what she was up against. As she has said, 'My politics is geared to establishing the rights of the people of Bangladesh'. Sheikh Hasina has been providing leadership to the nation for the past decade and a half, leadership committed to the removal of military rule, the uprooting of autocracy, an end to terrorism in all spheres and a folding up of the psychology of economic dependence. These are the qualities which have endeared her to the masses. Her political experience and the relentlessness of her struggle have given her politics the edifice of strength which today acts as the base for the fulfilment of her dreams for the country. Courage, foresight, a sense of values and the esteem and love of the people are the basics upon which Sheikh Hasina's in its manure will she guides gasına politics rests. It is the expectation of the nation that the principles and the values which Sheikh Hasina has committed herself to as she guides the country into the future will act as a spur to the country in its march into a new century.

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