First Lady of Bangladesh
| First Lady of Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Residence | Bangabhaban |
| Appointer | President of Bangladesh |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib |
| Formation | 26 March 1971 |
First Lady of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশের ফার্স্ট লেডি, romanized: Bānlādēśēra phārsṭa lēḍi) is the unofficial title given to the spouse of the president of Bangladesh. Prominent former first ladies include Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, former prime minister Khaleda Zia[1] and former opposition leader Rowshan Ershad.[2] The incumbent first lady is Rebecca Sultana.
The title should not be confused with the husband or wife of the prime minister of Bangladesh. Rashida Hamid was the longest serving first lady of Bangladesh.[3]
Duties
[edit]Duties of the first lady are receiving foreign leaders along with the president, conversing with the spouse of the foreign leader, being a role model for the people of the nation, promoting of policies by the government urging public support of policies, and advocating for socio-economic change. An example of this is Rowshan Ershad who called for improvements in women's rights.[4]
Appointment
[edit]The first lady takes up her role and office after the inauguration of the president of Bangladesh who is appointed by the Jatiya Sangsad. After the inauguration she resides with her husband at Bangabhaban.[citation needed]
List of officeholders
[edit]- Political parties
- Other affiliations
- Status
| No. | Portrait | Name | President | Term as First Lady | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start of term | End of term | Tenure | |||||
| 1 | .jpg)
|
Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | Awami League |
| — | 
|
Syeda Nafisa Islam | Syed Nazrul Islam | 17 April 1971 | 12 January 1972 | 270 days | Awami League |
| 2 |
|
Begum Khurshid Chowdhury | Abu Sayeed Chowdhury | 12 January 1972 | 24 December 1973 | 1 year, 346 days | Awami League |
| 3 |
|
Name Unavailable | Mohammad Mohammadullah | 24 December 1973 | 25 January 1975 | 1 year, 32 days | Awami League |
| (1) |
|
Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | 25 January 1975 | 15 August 1975 | 202 days | BaKSAL |
| 4 |
|
Name Unavailable | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad | 15 August 1975 | 6 November 1975 | 83 days | Awami League |
| 5 |
|
Khodeza Begum | Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem | 6 November 1975 | 21 April 1977 | 1 year, 166 days | Awami League |
| 6 | 
|
Khaleda Zia | Ziaur Rahman | 21 April 1977 | 30 May 1981 | 4 years, 39 days | BNP |
| 7 |
|
Name Unavailable | Abdus Sattar | 30 May 1981 | 24 March 1982 | 298 days | BNP |
| — |
|
Vacant | N/A | 24 March 1982 | 27 March 1982 | 1 year, 3 days | N/A |
| 8 |
|
Name Unavailable | A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury | 27 March 1982 | 10 December 1983 | 1 year, 258 days | Independent |
| 9 | 
|
Rowshan Ershad | Hussain Muhammad Ershad | 11 December 1983 | 6 December 1990 | 6 years, 360 days | Jatiya Party |
| — |
|
Anowara Begum | Shahabuddin Ahmed | 6 December 1990 | 10 October 1991 | 308 days | Independent |
| 10 |
|
Hosne Ara Rahman | Abdur Rahman Biswas | 10 October 1991 | 9 October 1996 | 4 years, 365 days | BNP |
| 11 |
|
Anowara Begum | Shahabuddin Ahmed | 9 October 1996 | 14 November 2001 | 5 years, 36 days | Independent |
| 12 |
|
Hasina Warda Chowdhury | A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury | 14 November 2001 | 21 June 2002 | 219 days | BNP |
| — |
|
Nur Akhtar | Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar | 21 June 2002 | 6 September 2002 | 77 days | BNP |
| 13 |
|
Anwara Begum | Iajuddin Ahmed | 6 September 2002 | 12 February 2009 | 6 years, 159 days | Independent |
| — |
|
Vacant | Zillur Rahman (Widower) |
12 February 2009 | 20 March 2013 | 4 years, 36 days | Awami League |
| 14 |
|
Rashida Hamid | Mohammad Abdul Hamid | 14 March 2013 | 24 April 2023 | 10 years, 41 days | Awami League |
| 15 |
|
Rebecca Sultana | Mohammed Shahabuddin | 24 April 2023 | Incumbent | 2 years, 50 days | Awami League |
References
[edit]- ^ "Profile: Khaleda Zia". BBC News. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Rowshan Ershad to be opposition leader". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "President's wife stresses women's advanced capability to face challenges". BSS. 30 March 2022.
- ^ President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad, First Lady Begum Raushan Ershad - Pamphlet. Padma Printers Bangladesh. pp. 28–31.