Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, assumed office on January 12, 2014 for the third time after the grand alliance led by her party Bangladesh Awami League won parliamentary election on 5th of January.

She became prime minister for the first time on June 23, 1996 when her party Bangladesh Awami League acquired majority in the general election held on June 12, 1996.

After the term, conspiracy designed by the then caretaker government led Bangladesh Awami League to lose the general election in 2001 and Sheikh Hasina became the leader of the opposition again. A military-backed caretaker government took over the office in 2007 as the BNP-Jamaat government failed to hand over power in a peaceful manner in 2006. After two years in the office, the caretaker government organized the 9th general election on December 29, 2008. Sheikh Hasina’s party earned a landslide victory with a two-third majority in the widely acclaimed free and fair election leading her taking over the office of the prime minister for the second time on January 6, 2009.

Sheikh Hasina continued her struggle and remained undaunted to ensure people’s right to food, vote and other fundamental rights ignoring numerous obstacles, including threat on her life. Under her leadership, people of Bangladesh achieved democracy and freedom of speech. Bangladesh earned the dignity of a lower middle-income country.

The country achieved tremendous success in socio-economic fronts during her tenure. In 1996-2001 term, Sheikh Hasina’s government achieved laudable successes in many fields, the most significant being the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India; the Peace Accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts; construction of Bangabandhu Bridge; and ensuring food security. She also introduced beneficial programme for farmers, and social safety nets for the distressed, landless and deprived people. These include allowances for distressed women, widows, disabled and freedom fighters; Ashrayan for the homeless and “One house-One farm” scheme.

Sheikh Hasina is the Chairperson of ‘The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.’ She believes in democracy, secularism, inclusive growth and progress, and dedicated her life to eliminate poverty and barriers that marginalize people. Her interest is in technology, cuisine, music and reading.

Sheikh Hasina’s only son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed is an ICT expert. Her only daughter Saima Hossain Wazed is a psychologist and has been working for the betterment of autistic children. She has 7 grandchildren.

Sajeeb Wazed, is a ICT Consultant and political campaigner. He is the son of Sheikh Hasina, the Honorable Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the eldest grandson of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh. A member of the Awami League, He was a key figure in formulating the party's vision 2021 manifesto. He is currently serving as the Honorable Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser.
Sajeeb Wazed graduated with a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in the United States and attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he earned his Masters in Public Administration degree.
In 2007, Sajeeb Wazed was selected by the World Economic Forum in Davos as one of the "250 Young Global Leaders of the World". The forum cited his role as Advisor to the President of the Bangladesh Awami League.On 25 February 2009, Sajeeb Wazed officially joined the Awami League as a primary member of the Rangpur district unit of the party.
Within days of joining the Awami League as a primary member, Sajeeb Wazed, in his capacity as an IT policy analyst, unveiled the concept paper and action plan for the government's ambitious "Digital Bangladesh" scheme; to develop a strong ICT industry in Bangladesh and initiate e-governance and IT education on a mass scale.

Position Held:

• Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh since January 2014;
• Member of Parliament (National Assembly of Bangladesh) since January 2009;
• Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on ICT Ministry and Private Members’ Bill from 2009 to 2013;
• President of Bangladesh Carom Federation since 2009 and Vice-President of International Carom Federation since 2011;
• Co-Chair of Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change from 2009 to 2013.

Achievement:

• Nominated Young Global Leader in 2016 by the World Economic Forum.
• Became Minister of State at the age of 33 years making him the youngest minister in the history of Bangladesh. During his tenure, more than 18,000 government offices across the country were brought under a dedicated high speed intranet, one of the world's largest web portal consisting of 25,000 government websites established, Bangladesh won ICT’s Sustainable Development Award and WSIS plus 10 Award from ITU and Public Service Excellence Award from WITSA.
• Elected Member of Parliament (MP) at the age of 28 years and became the youngest MP in the Ninth Parliament and re-elected in 2014. Minister Palak is very active in the Parliament to have an accountable government.
• Secured National Award on Environment in 2010 handed over by the Prime Minister in recognition to his role in the large scale tree plantation movement.

Education:

• Obtained Master of Science in Political Science and LLB (Bachelor of Law) from the National University of Bangladesh.
• Completed a Capstone Course from National Defense College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Profession:

• Minister Palak is a Lawyer by profession and enrolled as an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Social Media Presence:

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/zapalak (has more than one million fans in FB)
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/@zapalak
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zapalak
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/palakmp
• Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+palakmp