# Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina Wazed (born 28 September 1947) is the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in office from January 2009 to August 2024. She previously served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001, and she has led the Bangladesh Awami League since 1981.

## Quotes

* Rumors have been spread during the movement that Sheikh Hasina has fled. But I want to tell you that Sheikh Hasina has not fled, never flees.
** July 22, 2024, in a meeting with businessmen
* No one knows the pain of losing a loved one more than I do.
** 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement
* I am indeed rather residing very close to the country, so that I may probably silently enter by lucky chance at any time.
** 12 September 2024
* If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters do not get job, then will the grandchildren of Razakar get it? My question is to the countrymen. Razakar's grandchildren will get jobs, will freedom fighters not get? what is the crime?
* Responding to a question from reporters on quota reform
* The price of brinjal has gone above 110 taka. It has now come down to 80 taka. Instead of making brinjal fritters with brinjal, you can make it with other vegetables that are easily available. That's what we eat. 'You can make a very good brinjal fritters with sweet pumpkin instead of brinjal. We do it like this. That's how it can be done.
** 6 April 2022
* Khaleda Zia said, "The Padma Bridge is being built in charlatan process, it will not rise there, it will collapse if you climb." And the one who has stopped the money of the bridge like Padma Bridge for the post of MD (Muhammad Yunus) should also be given two dunks in the Padma river and again put him on the bridge. Don't let him die. Then if they may be taught.
** 18 May 2022
* "Like East Timor, they will carve out a Christian country taking parts of Bangladesh [Chattogram] and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal." Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League president, said in a meeting on Thursday, reported The Daily Star. It was the 14-party alliance's first meeting with the Awami League president after polls. "The offer came from a white man," Sheikh Hasina said without revealing any details. "It may appear that it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I know where else they intend to go," she said that there will be more trouble but she is not worried about it. "If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem."
** PM Sheikh Hasina alleges plot to carve out Christian state from Bangladesh: ‘A white man offered…’
* Since my last tenure we have been trying to find the root causes of poverty and how we could reduce it. We wanted to ensure food security so we put all our force into producing more food and also the distribution system so that food should first reach to the poorest of the poor. Then we tried to create job opportunities for them in the rural areas.
** In an interview with Anup Kaphle for the Washington Post about Bangladesh's economical growth.
* What do you want, that I should start crying, ‘Oh, crisis, we have a crisis!’ Do you want that?
** When a journalist asked whether she believed the election had thrust the country deeper into political instability. (January 15, 2014)
* I am urging the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader to stop these bomb and grenade attacks, these acts of sabotage, and killings, of arson and damage to property.
* The path you are following will not bring any benefit for the people. Instead you will lose public faith and confidence.
* We want to come out of the vicious circle of unhealthy politics.
** In a televised speech to the nation on the first anniversary of the parliamentary elections. (January 05, 2015)
* Maintaining decency, we could go anywhere and do all of our works -- Islam gives that liberty and scope to women ...women have to create their own fate and work out their own future.
** Hasina said on a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The Ministry of Children and Women Affairs organised the function on the occasion of Begum Rokeya Day, (9 December 2015).
* [The fundamentalist groups] are trying, no doubt about it, and there are some people trying to encourage them, but we have controlled the situation.
** In an interview of The Guardian (16 September 2015) (21 September 2015).
* My job is to assist the common people, I do politics for the people, not for me ... People are enjoying democracy now.
* All the democratic institutions are working and people are satisfied and people are enjoying it. So the way you say I am dominating, I am not dominating. I am serving people.
** In an interview in Dhaka.
* World leaders should keep their word, particularly the developed countries.
* My priority is to establish this country as a poverty-free country, we have a long way to go – we have to do more. When I have been able to establish this country as a poverty-free country, a hunger-free country, a developed country, perhaps at that time, perhaps then I may say I am proud.
** At the UN general assembly to launch the sustainable development goals (SDGs). (25 September 2015)
* It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion, their only religion is terrorism.
** In a nationally televised speech after the 2016 Gulshan, Dhaka attack. (2 July 2016)
* My objective is to fulfil the dream of Bangabandhu through building a hunger- and poverty-free Golden Bangladesh being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.
* I think that the friendship between Bangladesh and India is like a flowing river and full with generosity. This is the spirit of the people of the two neighbours. I think if our commitments are honest, we would be able to achieve many things that are beneficial to our people.
** On an article of The Hindu during her state visit to India (7 April 2017).
* The BNP leader said we kept the people in the dark while signing the memoranda of understanding (MoUs). I have only one question to ask her: Whom did she consult when she signed the defence deal with China? No-one saw what was in it.
** Responding to Khaleda Zia's criticism about her state visit to India (13 April 2017).
* No people in any region would remain neglected . . . development of each and every person is important for the real and balanced development of the country.
** During a prees conference while she was awarding scholarship among meritorious students of minor ethnic communities of the plain land at Prime Minister's Office (17 May 2017).
* As leaders and activists of Awami League, our responsibility is to fulfill the dream of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib so that every person in the country gets food, home, education, health care and prosperous life.
** While addressing a special extended party meeting at the Gonobhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (20 May 2017).
* I want work, I want work with honesty; corruption should be stopped, corruption shouldn't take place in any way.
** Sheikh giving tough warning in her introductory speech at the second Secretary Committee meeting against corruption.
* At such an age our sons and daughters mostly need a right guideline, their problems need to be realised and more time is needed to be spent with them.
** Hasina suggested the parents, guardians and teachers on the occasion of receiving official results of Higher Secondary Certificate results 2017.
* It is difficult to stem one’s tears when we see the situation. People deserve to live like human beings. Why should they suffer so?
** Hasina about Rohingya refugees plight during distributing relief materials among the refugees (12 September, 2017).

## Quotes about Hasina

* As the Awami League exhibited "all the characteristics of fascism", there is "no room" for Hasina's party to carry out politics in Bangladesh,
* 30 October 2024, Muhammad Yunus, Noble Laurette and Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser, in an interview with the Financial Times.
* It is heartening that Prime Minister of Bangladesh despite the fact that she is a woman is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her firmness to deal with the menace.
** Indian PM Narendra Modi, on a speech at Dhaka University. (June 08, 2015)
* Noticing her efforts in the haor area, it seems to me that the premier failed to understand the reality of the flood victims.
** Khaleda Zia, Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and political rival in a press conference (30 April 2017).
* Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana have moved to a safe place from Ganabhaban. Sheikh Hasina wanted to record a speech before leaving. He didn't get that chance.
** News Agency AFP, 5 August 2024,
* What happened in the country today, it was supposed to happen. Mass uprisings can never be prevented. The student quota reform movement could have been easily resolved. But because of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's insistence, so many people died. The figure of loss of life that has appeared in the media, in reality this number is much more. How many more bodies are lying, how many mass graves, how many innocent people have lost their lives! She left. Who will answer now? People could not vote for 15 years. Votes have been stolen day after day. Long pent-up anger came to the fore. Sheikh Hasina should have understood how unpopular she and her party are. This is so much loss of life, who will answer? There is a serious lack of good governance in the country. He could not give good governance. Thousands of bullets were fired at students during the quota reform movement. Shots were fired from a helicopter. Earlier we all called HM Ershad a dictator. He was called a dictator because only six people died then. But how many people have lost their lives in the last 15 years. In 2009, 57 army officers died in the then BDR rebellion in Pilkhana. Who will answer now? Who is called the father of the nation, why will his family members be so tragic? We had to see his fate. All this happened because of his pride and arrogance. I said to the Prime Minister, ensure good governance in the country. I have said in various meetings and seminars. What is happening is dictatorship. Because of saying these things we were called agents of different parties. How can you blame the people for the fact that public buildings are being looted and vandalized? Hasina's government has not learned from Sri Lanka. She did not learn from Tunisia. The government has not learned from how Hosne Mubarak flew into a frenzy in Egypt. Such is the consequence if there is no government of the people. Sheikh Hasina left 100 times worse than Ershad. Ershad did not run away. She ran away. She escaped, but destroyed the Awami League party. Her violence, arrogance, pride destroyed the party (Awami League).
** M Sakhawat Hossain, 5 August 2024, election analyst and former military officer
* The grief of losing the near ones, is how much painful, which more than me, who knows better? Modi you tell me, tell me Qader, you tell me. The damage of breaking monitor in metrorail, the deep pain of losing power, I will raise fear by killing more people, but now anymore I can't hold the way... The royal palace have been missed from my hand, how much scream has been piled in by heart, at the pain of losing power, can I laugh anymore? The grief of losing the near ones... The chair of power is elusive today, Who will comfort my pain? In search of peace and hope for power, how much pain accumulates in my heart, The grief of losing the near ones...
** 17 August 2024, an amateur AI made fictional song mocking the mourning of Sheikh Hasina which published in Facebook and gone viral in Bangladesh
* In 1987, Sheikh Hasina met the young Mrinal Kanti Das, VP of Munshiganj Harganga College Students' Union. And since the introduction, Mrinal Kanti Das started living in Bangabandhu Bhavan at number thirty-two. Sheikh Hasina used to live in that house. Mrinal Kanti Das and Sheikh Hasina used to lock the door from inside the library room of the Bangabandhu Bhavan till late at night and used to chatter and laugh. Mrinal's acceptance towards Sheikh Hasina increased so much that it became the envy of all. Mrinal became Sheikh Hasina's closest person! His power increased so much that in 1990, Awami League Central Committee General Secretary Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was thrown out of Bangabandhu Bhavan by humiliating him. One day four people including Mrinal are playing cards in Bangabandhu Bhavan. It was three-thirty. At that time, Sheikh Hasina's only uncle, Akram Mamu, came and said, "Don't go to this Mrinal, he is sitting without eating for you!" Mrinal to show off his power in front of his friends replied “Hey, let me stay without eating for a while!” One day Mrinal got angry with Sheikh Hasina and left. Sheikh Hasina herself went and brought Mrinal Kanti Das to Bangabandhu Bhavan to break the anger. After Sheikh Hasina lost the election in 1991, Mrinal left Sheikh Hasina due to various grievances. Sheikh Hasina herself went three times to bring back Mrinal but he did not return. Instead, he started promoting his physical relationship with Sheikh Hasina. Mrinal kept smiling and saying, his relationship with Sheikh Hasina is very deep!
** Matiur Rahman Rentu, "Amar Fashi Chai", 26 March 1999, pp. 125-127
* Honorable Speaker, who has slandered our leader's (Khaleda Zia) family here... (Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia: ((loudly addressing the excited MPs of the ruling party (Awami League) while seated) sit, sit,... You have done a lot of exaggeration..) is a political prostitute, Hon'ble Speaker. Calcutta civil court's lawer Mr. Chandidas. (Excited uproar among government MPs) He had a daughter named Gouribala Das. Chandidas' Assistant Advocate Mr. Chandidas (Syeda Papia: (from the side) go on reading) used to travel regularly. On this occasion, Aranya Kumar Chakraborty had an illicit relationship with Gauribala. (Papia: read on read on..read on..yeah) (Government party members get more excited) Gouribala pressures Aranya Kumar to marry her when she realizes that she is pregnant. Aranya Kumar does not agree to this and denies the illicit relationship. Meanwhile Chandidas got worried after knowing the matter. Meanwhile Gouribala gave birth to a son on 12/12/1920. He was named Devdas Chakraborty. (Syeda Papia: (shouting support from the side) YOOOOO...(keeps pounding on the table.)) Chandidas keeps pressuring Aranya Kumar Chakraborty to marry Gouribala, (Syeda Papia: (slamming the table with support) Keep reading, keep reading...keep reading, keep catching...don't ever stop...yeah) but Aranya Kumar refused. Meanwhile, Devdas's age increased by 2 years. Chandidas became depressed and felt very ill. when (Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury: (addressing excited parliamentarians of the ruling party) honorable members, calm down.. (addressing Rehana Akhter Ranu) honorable member) Devdas was 3 years old, Chandidas's Muhuri Sheikh Lutfur Rahman (grandfather of Sheikh Hasina) married Gouribala. (The mic turned off) (Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury: Honorable members, I call your attention, honorable members, sit down, everyone, sit down, sit down. Honorable member, I call your attention. Honorable member, you speak on the budget following Rule 270. Give her the mic.) Thank you, Honorable Speaker, for asking me to speak on the budget. But the speech that was given on the last twenty (June), I want to ask you question, was it budget speech?
** Rehana Akter Ranu, 23 June 2013 in Parliament

## See also

* 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement

## External links

* Awami League official website