DHAKA: The 69th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president, is being observed on Monday.

On this day in 1947, Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born in Tungipara of Gopalganj.

The ruling Awami League, its associated bodies and other socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programs to observe her birthday across the country.

Sheikh Hasina has been serving as the prime minister since January 2009. She also previously served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001.

She also served as opposition leader from 1986 to 1987, from 1991 to 96 and 2001 to 2006.

Sheikh Hasina has been leading the Awami League since 1981.

Several times she was the target of assassination. The severest was the attempt in 2004.

During the rule of caretaker government in 2007, Sheikh Hasina was arrested on allegation of corruption.

She returned to power as the prime minister after the Awami League-led alliance had won a landslide victory in December in 2008.

Sheikh Hasina became the prime minister for the third time after winning the parliamentary polls in the January 5, 2014 election that was boycotted by the main opposition BNP.

BDST: 1217 HRS, SEP 28, 2015
SR/SMS