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Since Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, it has experienced an unstable political history. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first Prime Minister and the founder of the Awami League, initially led the nation. The political environment has been characterized by Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supremacy, periods of military control, and political instability.
Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh's interim government on August 8, 2024, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid widespread protests. His tenure began officially with his oath-taking ceremony on the same day.
Read more to get a complete overview of the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, their terms in office, and their political affiliations
| No. | Name | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | 12 Jan 1972 – 25 Jan 1975 | Awami League |
| — | Muhammad Mansur Ali | 25 Jan 1975 – 15 Aug 1975 | Awami League |
| 2 | Mashiur Rahman (acting) | 15 Aug 1975 – 6 Nov 1975 | Independent |
| 3 | Muhammad Habibullah Bahar | 6 Nov 1975 – 20 Nov 1975 | — |
| 4 | Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed | 29 Nov 1975 – 7 Nov 1976 | — |
| 5 | M. A. Hannan (acting) | 7 Nov 1976 – 29 Jun 1978 | BNP precursor |
| 6 | Mohammad Martuza | 29 Jun 1978 – 12 Jun 1981 | — |
| 7 | Shah Azizur Rahman | 12 Jun 1981 – 24 Mar 1982 | BNP |
| — | Position vacant (military rule) | 1982–1986 | — |
| 8 | Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury | 27 Dec 1986 – 6 Dec 1990 | Jatiya Party |
| 9 | Kazi Zafar Ahmed | 6 Dec 1990 – 20 Oct 1991 | — |
| 10 | Khaleda Zia | 20 Oct 1991 – 15 Oct 1996 5 Jul 2001 – 21 Oct 2006 | BNP |
| 11 | Muhammad Habibur Rahman (acting) | 30 Oct 1996 – 23 Jun 1996 | Independent |
| 12 | Sheikh Hasina | 23 Jun 1996 – 15 Jul 2001 6 Jan 2009 – 5 Aug 2024 | Awami League |
| 13 | Latifur Rahman (chief adviser, acting equiv.) | 15 Jul 2001 – 10 Oct 2001 | Caretaker |
| 14 | Iajuddin Ahmed (chief adviser, acting equiv.) | 29 Oct 2006 – 12 Jan 2007 | Caretaker |
| 15 | Fakhruddin Ahmed (chief adviser, acting equiv.) | 12 Jan 2007 – 6 Jan 2009 | Caretaker |
| 16 | Muhammad Yunus (chief adviser, post-2024 interim) | 8 Aug 2024 – Feb 2026 | Independent |
| 17 | Tarique Rahman | Feb 2026 – Present | BNP |
The Prime Ministers of Bangladesh from 1971 to 2026 represent the storied history that Bangladesh went through with coups following the Independence era, with the Awami League and BNP taking turns dominating the scene with only 16 people holding the position despite the instabilities that most of those times presented.
Sheikh Hasina's record-breaking 15 years of uninterrupted tenure from 2009 to 2024 is best characterized by economic development but was brought down by youth protests against the autocrat, making way for the interim appointment of Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus later in 2025.
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