India's neighbouring country Bangladesh regained democracy after Sheikh Hasina Wajed was sworn in as the new prime minister of the nation on Tuesday  (January 6). Bangladesh got the prime ministerial rule after two years of army-backed regime. President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath taking ceremony of Sheikh Hasina who gets the office of prime minister for the second time. The oath taking ceremony at presidential palace was attended by about 1000 foreign diplomats, government officials and members of parliament.

 

Apart from several delegates, people like General Moeen U. Ahmed who is the chief of the powerful army and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus were also present at the ceremony. Interacting with media, the new PM said that the foremost task of her government will be to improve the law and order situation and curb food prices. Hasina said that the people of Bangladesh have huge expectations from the new government and she vowed to meet all those expectations.

 

Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party won a landslide victory in general elections of Bangladesh, held last week. The Awami League bagged 230 seats out of a possible 300, giving Sheikh Hasina a clear majority to govern without forming a coalition. Bangladesh was under the state of emergency for the last two years. Till Tuesday, the army was in command of the state machinery. During emergency rule, Sheikh Hasina and the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia were jailed for a year on corruption charges.

 

The 61-year-old Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country's struggle for independence in 1971. The new premier declared to fight against poverty which stands out be a major problem in Bangladesh. The country is one of the poorest nations of the world with 40 percent of its 144 million people living on less than a dollar a day.