History

After the emergence of independent Bangladesh, the Awami League won the first general elections
in 1973 but was overthrown in 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The party
was forced by subsequent military regimes onto the political sidelines, and many of its senior leaders
and activists were executed or jailed. After the restoration of democracy in 1990, the Awami League
emerged as one of the principal players of Bangladeshi politics. Since 2009, when the Awami
League came to power, Bangladesh has experienced democratic backsliding.[22][23][24]
Amongst the leaders of the Awami League, five have become the President of Bangladesh, four
have become the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and one became the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The incumbent Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has headed the party since 1981.
The Bangladesh Awami League's modern foreign policy is to maintain good foreign relations with all
countries, including the US, the UK, France, and Germany as well as Russia and