Hasina's 59th birthday today

Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Goplagonj on this day in 1947.

She was elected president of the party at an AL council session on February 1981 while she was in exile. She returned home on May 17, 1981.

Hasina led the AL to power and became the prime minister of Bangladesh in June 1996, two decades after Bangabandhu was assassinated in August 1975.

In 1968, Hasina married eminent scientist M Wazed Miah. They have a son and a daughter.

Last year, she escaped an assassination attempt on August 21 when her rally came under grenade attacks in the capital.

In a statement yesterday, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil urged all to pray for the AL president on the eve of her birthday.

Different front organisations of the AL will organise milad mahfil on the occasion wishing her long life.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader is leaving for New Delhi this afternoon on a five-day tour to visit Azmir Sharif.

During the visit, she is expected to meet top Indian leaders including Sonia Gandhi.

She is scheduled to return on October 2.