BANGLADESH, Dec 30 (Agencies): Sheikh Hasina Wajid, a close friend of India, has fought back against all odds to make a triumphant return to power in Bangladesh, a country founded by her late father Sheikh Mujabir Rehman.
Jailed on graft and extortion charges and almost cajoled into taking a self-imposed exile, the Awami League chief's comeback to power with a landslide three-fourths majority in Parliament, could not have been a sweeter revenge after seven years of political troubles and travails.
Hasina, 61, had to undergo a year in custody on charges of murder, extortion and graft and then faced intense behind the scene pressure to go on a self-imposed exile abroad, if charges were to be dropped.
Such charges and allegations could have derailed many a political leaders but Hasina never left the frontline of Bangladesh's turbulent political scene and bided her time to make a spectacular comeback in Monday's general election.
The former premier has two daunting tasks before her to ensure that democracy is restored and tame violent Islamist militants after the military-backed interim government ruled the impoverished nation for two years.
Hasina, a joint architect of the historic 30-year Ganges water-sharing treaty with India in 1996, known for her fiery speeches and iron-clad determination to return to power, demolished her arch-rival Khalida Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, winning 258 seats in the 300-member-National Assembly.
She has witnessed many highs and lows in her turbulent life, including an assassination attempt in Dhaka which resulted in the deaths of 21 party supporters in 2004.
The highs included witnessing her father's release from imprisonment in Pakistan to become Bangladesh's first president and her own stint as prime minister (1996-2001) in which she was undisputed leader of Bangladesh and the party founded by Mujibur Rahman.
On the other hand, Hasina had to undergo a major tragedy when her father and other members of her family were murdered during a coup in 1971.
She also had to bow out from power as prime minister ignominiously in 2001 and later arrested and imprisoned on massive corruption charges.
With politics in her blood, Hasnia had already established a reputation as a student leader at Dhaka University in the run-up to independence in 1971.
Forced into exile following her father's murder, she returned in 1981 to campaign against the military government of General Hossain Mohammad Ershad and spent much of that decade in and out of prison or under house arrest.
After the fall of Ershad, Bangladesh's first elections were held in 1991.
They were won by BNP led by Khaleda Zia.
Hasina tasted power for the first time in June 1996, when her Awami League won and she was elected prime minister.
Hasina is known for her ability to enthuse her supporters out on to the streets and vote for her.
At her final election rally she said: "There is a threat on my life but I'll continue my struggle to see the country smile.
I'll serve you until I die." Her key election promises had been to fight poverty, reduce food prices and modernise the country through technology.
Hasina married nuclear scientist MA Wajed Miah in 1968.
They have two children, who both live in the United States.