Hasina takes oath

Sheikh Hasina has taken oath as the Prime Minister for the third time.

The swearing-in of her new cabinet began at 3pm on Sunday at Bangabhaban.

President Abdul Hamid first administered oath to the Prime Minister and then other ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers .

Jatiya Party Presidium member Raushan Ershad, who has already been declared Leader of the Opposition in a gazette, was present at the oath-taking ceremony.

Her husband and party Chairman HM Ershad, who played flip-flop with the Jan 5 national election and is being treated at a military hospital under RAB guard, also joined the function.

He was later announced to take charge as PM's special envoy with the rank of a minister.

He sat beside Raushan in the front row of the guests.

As Ershad entered the Darbar Hall, the audience started clapping with some laughing loudly.

Later the ministers were alloted their portfolios.

The multi-party interim government set up to oversee the Jan 5 polls stands dissolved.

Around 1,000 guests were invited to the oath-taking ceremony, including US Ambassador Dan W Mozena.

Hasina's profile

Sheikh Hasina was born on Sep 28, 1947 at Tungipara under Gopalganj district.

She is the eldest of five children of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

She was married to eminent nuclear scientist Dr M A Wazed Miah in 1968.

Involved in politics since when she was a student, Hasina did her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dhaka in 1973. She was elected Vice-President of the Students Union of Government Intermediate Girl's College.

Hasina was a member of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra League, the student front of the Awami League, and Secretary of the organisation’s Rokeya Hall unit.

Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the 1975 Aug 15 massacre, in which her father and most of the family were killed, as they were staying in Germany at the time.

They had to spend six years in exile before they came back home on May 17, 1981. Before her return, Hasina was unanimously elected President of the Awami League.

She won three seats in the parliamentary election held in 1986 and was elected Leader of the Opposition.

She led the mass movement in 1990 that culminated in fall of military dictator HM Ershad in 1991.

Following the 1991 election, Hasina became the Leader of the Opposition in the country's fifth Parliament.

Awami League formed government led by Hasina after its victory in the June 12 election in 1996.

Her government signed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India and Peace Accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts , both considered landmark agreements.

Hasina again became the Leader of the Opposition when the BNP-led 4-Party Alliance formed government after winning the 2001 polls.

Under her leadership, the Awami league-led grand alliance swept the ninth Parliament election held on Dec 29, 2008.

Hasina is blessed with son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Hossain Putul.