Sheikh Hasina

Incumbent
Sheikh Hasina
since 6 January 2009

Style The Honorable

Appointer President of Bangladesh

Inaugural holder Tajuddin Ahmed

Formation 26 March 1971

Website http://www.pmo.gov.bd/

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh is, in practice, the most powerful political position in Bangladesh. The President of Bangladesh is considered senior to the Prime Minister, but holds a largely ceremonial role. The Prime Minister has effective control over the executive arm of government, and presides over the country’s cabinet.

Appointment of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is appointed by the President based on the situation in the Jatiya Sangsad (the Bangladeshi parliament). The Prime Minister will usually be the leader of the largest party (or coalition) in the Jatiya Sangsad and must have the confidence of the Jatiya Sangsad to govern. The cabinet is composed of ministers selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president. At least 90% of the ministers must be MPs. The other 10% may be non-MP experts or “technocrats” who are not otherwise disqualified from being elected MPs. According to the constitution, the president can dissolve Parliament upon the written request of the prime minister.
There is sometimes a certain amount of debate over who should be considered a Prime Minister. Mashiur Rahman governed under the title “Senior Minister”. Excluding caretaker leaders (but including Mashiur Rahman, the Senior Minister), there have been eleven Prime Ministers of Bangladesh. One person, Khaleda Zia, has held the position on three terms including two consecutive occasions.[1] She also holds the record for the longest total time served as Prime Minister. However, Sheikh Hasina Wazed narrowly holds the record for the longest unbroken premiership, with her term in office lasting a few weeks longer than Khaleda Zia’s first term.

Change of government

In September 1991, the electorate approved changes to the constitution, formally creating a parliamentary system and returning governing power to the office of the prime minister, as in Bangladesh’s original constitution. In October 1991, members of parliament elected a new head of state, President Abdur Rahman Biswas