Sheikh Hasina: Who is Bangladesh's controversial prime minister?

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, has stepped down from her position and departed from the country, following a series of protests led by students that escalated into violent upheaval across the nation.

The 76-year-old escaped to India in a helicopter on Monday, according to reports, while thousands of protesters broke into her official home in the capital city Dhaka.

This marks the conclusion of the rule of Bangladesh's PM who has held power for over 20 years and exerted strong control over the country.

Recognized for supervising the economic development of the South Asian country, Ms Hasina has faced allegations of becoming authoritarian in recent times.

Ms Hasina was born into a Muslim family in East Bengal in 1947, and she was always destined for a career in politics.

Her dad was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangladeshi leader known as the 'Father of the Nation' who guided the country to independence from Pakistan in 1971 and later served as its initial president.

During that period, Ms. Hasina had already made a name for herself as a leader among students at Dhaka University.

In 1975, during a military takeover, Mr. Rahman and the majority of his family were killed. Ms. Hasina and her younger sister were the only ones who survived because they were outside the country when the tragedy occurred.

Following her exile in India, Ms. Hasina returned to Bangladesh in 1981 and assumed leadership of the political party her father was a member of, the Awami League.

She teamed up with different political parties to organize demonstrations in the streets in support of democracy while General Hussain Muhammed Ershad was in power. Fueled by the widespread protests, Ms. Hasina soon became a symbol of unity for the nation.

She came into power for the first time in 1996. She was praised for successfully negotiating a water-sharing agreement with India and a peace treaty with tribal rebels in the southeastern region of the nation.

However, during that period, her administration faced backlash for several purportedly corrupt transactions and for appearing overly deferential to India.

She was defeated by her previous friend turned enemy, Begum Khaleda Zia from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 2001.

Both women come from powerful political families and have been leaders in Bangladeshi politics for over thirty years. They are often referred to as the "fighting Queens" because of their fierce personalities and influence in the country's political landscape. The term "Begum" is a title given to Muslim women of high social status.

Many people say that their intense competition has led to bus explosions, people disappearing, and unlawful killings happening frequently.

Ms Hasina regained power in 2009 through elections that were conducted while a temporary government was in charge.

A remarkable political fighter, she has faced many challenges during her time in opposition, including multiple times being arrested and targeted for assassination, such as in 2004 when she suffered hearing loss. Despite attempts to exile her and numerous legal battles accusing her of corruption, she has managed to persevere and continue her fight.

Bangladesh, led by Ms. Hasina, offers a different perspective. The country, with a majority Muslim population, was previously one of the poorest in the world. However, it has seen significant economic progress under her leadership since 2009.

This country is quickly becoming one of the strongest economies in the area, outpacing even its large neighbor India.

The per person earnings have increased three times in the past ten years, and the World Bank believes that over 25 million individuals have been brought out of poverty in the past two decades.

A big part of this development has been driven by the clothing industry, which makes up most of the goods shipped out of Bangladesh. This sector has grown quickly in the past few years, selling products to customers in Europe, North America, and Asia.

With the help of domestic funds, loans, and aid, Prime Minister Hasina's administration has initiated massive infrastructure initiatives. One notable project is the $2.9 billion Padma bridge that will span the Ganges River.

The most recent demonstrations posed a significant obstacle for Ms. Hasina after she became the Prime Minister, and come after a very contentious election in which her party was voted back into power for the fourth consecutive term.

With more and more people demanding her resignation, she continued to stand her ground. She criticized the protestors as "terrorists" and asked for assistance in "dealing firmly with these terrorists".

The turmoil in Dhaka and other places started with a request to eliminate quotas in government jobs but evolved into a broader protest against the government.

Since the pandemic began, Bangladesh has been facing challenges with the increasing cost of living. Inflation has risen dramatically, its foreign exchange reserves have decreased significantly, and its foreign debt has increased twofold since 2016.

Critics believe that Ms Hasina's government has not managed the situation well and they blame this for the current state of affairs. They also argue that the economic prosperity seen in Bangladesh in the past only benefitted those associated with Ms Hasina's Awami League because of the widespread corruption within the government.

Others argue that the advancement of the nation has been achieved by sacrificing democracy and human rights. They claim that Ms. Hasina's leadership has been characterized by oppressive authoritarian tactics aimed at silencing her political rivals, critics, and the press.

The government and Ms. Hasina have refuted those accusations.

However, in the past few months, numerous top officials of the BNP have been taken into custody, as well as thousands of followers, in the aftermath of protests against the government. This marks a significant change for a leader who previously advocated for a political system with multiple parties.

The rights organizations are worried about the many incidents of suspected forced disappearances and unlawful killings carried out by the authorities since 2009.

Ms Hasina's administration strongly refutes accusations of being responsible for such violations - however, it also tightly controls access for international reporters wishing to look into these claims.