Famous Bangladeshi Leaders

Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is the current prime minister of Bangladesh. The Awami League leader was also named to Forbes’s list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women and TIME 100, both in 2018, and is part of the Council of Women World Leaders.

Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on two occasions; from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. An influential politician, Zia has been serving as the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party since 1984. From 1977 to 1981, she served as the First Lady of Bangladesh.

Ziaur Rahman was a Bangladeshi Army officer and politician. He served as the President of Bangladesh from 21 April 1977 to 30 May 1981. He played a major role in the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. Ziaur Rahman is also credited with founding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. 

Md. Abdul Hamid is a Bangladeshi politician and the current President of Bangladesh. Hamid, who was sworn in as the president in 2013, is the longest serving Bangladeshi president. From 2009 to 2013, he was the speaker of the National Parliament.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a Bangladeshi politician and Army Chief. From 1983 to 1990, he served as the president of Bangladesh. After seizing power as head of the army in 1982, Ershad declared himself president the following year. His regime is widely regarded as an era of military dictatorship.

Sajeeb Wazed is a Bangladeshi politician and businessman. An important member of the Awami League, Wazed is credited with masterminding the Digital Bangladesh initiative. The initiative was part of Awami League's political manifesto, Vision 2021. He also operates a US-based firm called Wazed Consulting Inc., where he is serving as the president.

Despised as traitor in Pakistan and hailed as martyr in Bangladesh, Bangladesh-born Pakistani air force officer Matiur Rahman died while attempting to defect to Bangladesh with a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer during the Bangladesh Liberation War. For thirty-five years, his mortal remains lay buried in fourth-class-employees’ graveyard in Pakistan before it could be reburied with full military honor in Dhaka.

A member of eleventh Jatiya Sangsad representing Bangladesh National Party, Rumeen Farhana earned her degree in Law from University of London and obtained her Bar-at-Law from Lincoln's Inn, United Kingdom, before returning home to join the Dhaka High Court. Born to veteran Bangladeshi politician and language activist, she soon joined politics, publishing her first book, Amader Rojnamcha, in 2018. .  

Zillur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician best remembered for his service as the President of Bangladesh from 12 February 2009 to 20 March 2013. He played an important role in the Bengali language movement and Bangladesh Liberation War before establishing himself as an influential politician. In 2013, Zillur Rahman became the third Bangladeshi president to die in office.

Bangladeshi politician Dipu Moni initially became a doctor and later also obtained her master of laws. She also scripted history by becoming the first woman foreign minister in South Asia. She is the current minister of education of Bangladesh and has been a lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

Motiur Rahman Nizami was a Bangladeshi politician, writer, and Islamic scholar. He served as the Minister of Agriculture from 2001 to 2003 before serving as the Minister of Industries from 2003 to 2006. Motiur Rahman Nizami was convicted and sentenced to death for masterminding the Demra massacre, which resulted in the death of more than 800 unarmed Hindu civilians.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury created history when she became the first woman Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad, or the Bangladesh Parliament. A qualified lawyer, she later obtained a PhD in human rights, too. The Bangladesh Awami League member has also served as an advocate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

President of Bangladesh from 2002 to 2009 and Acting Prime Minister of Bangladesh in 2006-2007, Iajuddin Ahmed was a respected professor at University of Dhaka, having a doctorate in Soil Science, before he joined politics. Remembered for developing a process that preserved nutrients in soil, he also held the posts of Chairman of the Soil Science Department of Dhaka University

Apart from being a prominent actor of Dhallywood, or the Bangladeshi film industry, Dipjol has also been associated with politics. A Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporter, he served as the ward commissioner of Dhaka. He now heads the Bangladesh Film Artists' Association as its vice president.

Bangladeshi politician and Bangladesh Jatiya Party member Rowshan Ershad is the current leader of the opposition of Bangladesh. The wife of former president of Bangladesh, Hussain Mohammad Ershad, she also founded the Sena Paribar Kalliyan Samity and has been active in causes related to women’s and children’s welfare.

Momtaz Begum is a Bangladeshi politician and folk singer. Nicknamed The Music Queen, Begum has recorded over 700 albums and has won the prestigious Bangladesh National Film Award under the Best Female Playback Singer category on three occasions. Momtaz Begum is also a noted philanthropist; she has established the Momtaz Eye Hospital in Joymontop in memory of her father.

Asaduzzaman Noor is a Bangladeshi politician, actor, and activist. He is best known for his service as the Minister of Cultural Affairs from 13 January 2014 to 7 January 2019. As an actor, Asaduzzaman Noor is renowned for his work in theatre, television, and film productions. In 2018, he was awarded the Independence Day Award by the Government of Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi lawyer Irene Khan is the current UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and the first woman to hold the position. She has also been the secretary general of Amnesty International and has served as a consulting editor of The Daily Star, the largest circulating English newspaper in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi politician and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh member Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed had killed countless Bengali intellectuals during the Liberation War of 1971. His crimes against humanity got him sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal-2, and he was eventually executed by hanging, becoming one of the world’s first ministers to face that fate.

Ivy Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician and an important member of the popular political party, Bangladesh Awami League. Ivy Rahman served as the party's Women's Affairs secretary and held several other positions before her murder during the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack.

Farooque, also known as Mia Bhai, has had a long and illustrious career in the Bangladeshi film industry. A mass icon, he belonged to the golden age of Bangladeshi movies. Known for commercially successful films such as Lathial and Sareng Bou, he later switched to politics and became an Awami League MP.

Bangladeshi politician and Awami League member Mohammed Nasim has served as his country’s minister of both home affairs and health. He had also been a 6-time member of Jatiya Sangsad. He, however, faced conviction and imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage after contracting COVID-19 in 2020.

Matia Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician best known for her service as the Minister of Agriculture from 6 January 2009 to 7 January 2019. She is currently one of the most important and senior leaders of the Bangladesh Awami League.

Primarily remembered for his conquest of Sylhet in Bangladesh, Baghdad-born Syed Nasiruddin came all the way from Iran to India in search of better pasture, eventually settling in Bengal as the senior most military commander of the Sultan of Delhi. Also a follower of the Suhrawardiyya Sufi Order, his victory led to the spread of Islam in Bengal.

Panna Kaiser is a Bangladeshi politician who takes an active part in various cultural events and social activities. She has also been contributing immensely to a child support organization called Khelaghar. In 2021, Panna Kaiser was honored with the prestigious Bangla Academy Literary Award under the research on liberation war category.

Bangladeshi Islamist leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was a prominent part of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. In 2010, he was arrested on charges of genocide and rape of Hindus during the war of 1971, or the Bangladesh Liberation War. Initially sentenced to death, he later got his sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Bangladeshi freedom fighter Abu Osman Chowdhury played a major role in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Chowdhury, when posted in Chuadanga, also revolted against the murders of Bengalis by the Pakistani soldiers and bravely launched an attack on the Baloch forces. He later received the Independence Day Award.

ATM Alamgir was a Bangladeshi politician who was elected to parliament from the Comilla-10 constituency as a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1991. In 2016, ATM Alamgir left the Nationalist Party to join the Jatiya Party. On 3 August 2020, Alamgir died from COVID-19 at the age of 70.     

KS Firoz was a Bangladeshi actor who was active in the Dhaka theatre scene where he was renowned for his performance in the stage production of William Shakespeare's King Lear. KS Firoz also served in the Bangladesh Army, reaching the rank of Major prior to his retirement in 1977.  

Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was a Bangladeshi politician who served under Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as the adviser of parliamentary affairs from 2001 to 2006. In 2013, he was convicted of war crime charges and sentenced to death for his actions during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was executed by hanging in 2015. 

A. K. M. Mosharraf Hossain was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the State Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources from 2001 to 2005. He resigned from this position after he was accused of corruption by the Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission.   

Makbul Hossain was a Bangladeshi businessman and politician. From 14 July 1996 to 13 July 2001, he served as a Member of Parliament for Dhaka-9 constituency. He was an important member of Bangladesh Awami League and recieved several awards throughout his career. He was a recipient of Sher E Bangla National Gold Medal Award and Shahid Bodiujzaman Gold Medal Award.

Syed Faruque Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician best remembered for plotting the murder of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was one of the most important members of a coup that toppled the Sheikh Mujib regime and installed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as the President of Bangladesh. Syed Faruque Rahman was convicted and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging in 2010.

Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the first mayor of Sylhet City from 12 April 2003 to 9 May 2013, during which he was elected twice. Kamran contested the mayoral election for the third term but lost to the Nationalist Party politician Ariful Haque Choudhury.

Anwarul Kabir Talukdar was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the State Minister of Finance and Planning from 28 October 2001 to 20 May 2006. In 2006, he also served as the State Minister of Power for a brief period. Anwarul Kabir Talukdar also served in the Bangladesh Army, reaching the rank of major general before his retirement.

Sheikh Md. Nurul Haque was a Bangladeshi politician who was elected to Parliament from the Khulna-6 constituency as a member of the Bangladesh Awami League on 5 January 2014. Sheikh Md. Nurul Haque died on 29 July 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.

Muhammad Mohaiminul Islam was a Bangladeshi military officer best remembered for his service as the chief of staff of Bangladesh Navy. He served in this position from 1991 to 1995 after serving as the deputy chief of naval staff. Muhammad Mohaiminul Islam died on 14 July 2020 due to COVID-19.  

Bangla Bhai was a Bangladeshi terrorist who served as the military commander of the infamous militant group Al Qaeda. He gained worldwide notoriety for terrorist activities such as bombings before his arrest in 2006. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging in 2007.

Kamrun Nahar Putul was a Bangladeshi politician who was elected to Parliament from the Bogura-Joypurhat area. She served as a Member of Parliament from 23 June 1996 to 15 July 2001. Kamrun Nahar Putul died of COVID-19 in 2020. 

Azizur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician and an important member of the Bangladesh Awami League. He was twice elected to parliament from the Moulvibazar-3 constituency as a member of the Awami League. In 2020, Azizur Rahman was honored by the Government of Bangladesh with the prestigious Independence Day Award.

Executed by hanging for seven murders, Ershad Sikder began his life in crime with robbery and theft along Khulna railway station and the port area.  He became all powerful when he entered the political arena and soon he began dealing in drugs, forcefully occupying personal properties, torturing anybody who dared to oppose him until he fell from the grace.

A captain of the Bangladeshi Army, Abdul Majed had also been the director of youth development at the ministry of youth and sports. He was convicted for his role in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 1st president of Bangladesh, and eventually hanged to death.