A. A. SUVOROV Doctor of Philological Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Keywords: Bangladesh, women political leaders, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, military coup of 1975, women's empowerment, political dynasties in South Asia Of the bright galaxy of outstanding women heads of state and government who came to power in South Asian countries in the second half of the 20th century, only one Sheikh Hasina Wazed (b.1947) is now a real political centenarian. Her political career spans more than four decades, during which she alternated between Prime Minister and opposition leader of Bangladesh. She was repeatedly subjected to house and prison arrest, expelled from the country, and an attempt was made on her life in 2004. In 2007 she was arrested on charges of corruption and organizing political assassinations. However, in 2014, Hasina was elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time after her party won the parliamentary elections, another victory that came after a fierce battle with the opposition and Islamic fundamentalists.1 Hasina Wazed entered politics early, starting as the Vice-President of the Student Union at the University of Dhaka in 1966-1967. This association was the youth wing of the People's League (Awami League) party, whose leader was Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-1975), the founder and first head of State of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabandhu ("Friend of Bengalis"), who led the Bengali national liberation movement in East Pakistan, is now considered the "father of the nation" of Bangladesh and the most popular Bengali in the world.2 During the War of Independence 1971-1972. Hasina was under house arrest along with her mother and three siblings. The head of the family, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was serving another prison sentence in West Pakistan at the time. After Bangladesh gained independence in 1972, Hasina's role in politics remained more than modes ... Read more