Sheikh Rehana

Rehana was 4th child of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, a housewife. She was placed under house arrest in Dhanmondi along with her family by the Pakistan Army during Bangladesh Liberation War.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/politics/i-would-rather-die-sign-any-false-statement-1242298 |title=I would rather die than sign any false statement |date=2016-06-20 |newspaper=The Daily Star |language=en |access-date=2017-01-19}} She passed matriculation examination from Shaheen School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/129719|title=Ex-Shaheens introduce Sheikh Kamal Memorial Scholarship|website=www.theindependentbd.com|access-date=20 July 2023|archive-date=20 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720060920/https://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/129719|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|date=2022-09-13|language=bn|title=শেখ রেহানা, এক নিভৃতচারী মহীয়সী|url=https://sarabangla.net/post/sb-708586/|access-date=2022-09-13|website=Sarabangla}} She was in West Germany{{Cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/01/11/hasina-revisits-delhi-her-home-from-1975-81 |title=Hasina revisits Delhi, her home from 1975-81 |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2010-01-11 |access-date=2017-12-01 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001031251/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/01/11/hasina-revisits-delhi-her-home-from-1975-81 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Mahbub |first=Sumon |date=2011-08-15 |title='None wanted to shelter Mujib's daughters' |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2011/08/15/none-wanted-to-shelter-mujib-s-daughters |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=2017-12-01 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182219/https://bdnews24.com/politics/2011/08/15/none-wanted-to-shelter-mujib-s-daughters |url-status=live }} with her elder sister Sheikh Hasina when her family was assassinated in a military coup by the Bangladesh Army on 15 August 1975.{{Cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/neighbours/200816/bangladesh-govt-mulling-commission-to-unmask-1975-coup-plotters.html |title=Bangladesh govt mulling commission to unmask 1975 coup plotters |date=2016-08-20 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |language=en |access-date=2017-01-19}}{{Cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/08/11/nation-must-repay-the-debt-of-blood-to-bangabandhu-martyrs-hasina-says |title=Nation must repay the 'debt of blood' to Bangabandhu, martyrs, Hasina says |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2016-08-11 |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131195608/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/08/11/nation-must-repay-the-debt-of-blood-to-bangabandhu-martyrs-hasina-says |url-status=live }} She was 20 years old at that time.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/15/archives/mujib-reported-overthrown-and-killed-in-a-coup-by-the-bangladesh.html | title=Mu jib Reported Overthrown and Killed in a Coup by the Bangladesh Military | work=The New York Times | date=15 August 1975 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627112526/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/15/archives/mujib-reported-overthrown-and-killed-in-a-coup-by-the-bangladesh.html | archive-date=27 June 2024 }}

After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Rehana and her elder sister Sheikh Hasina took political refuge in India first and later to the United Kingdom. She had played an instrumental role in raising international awareness on the brutal and unlawful assassination of her entire family. After relentless campaign in different European countries, in the year 1979 in Sweden, Sheikh Rehana held the first international conference to call for an impartial trial on Bangabandhu Murder. The conference was attended by international jurists, European civil society members and her political colleagues in exile.{{Cite news |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/706032/Sheikh-Rehana%E2%80%99s-1979-speech-was-1st-global-call-for-justice-against-Bangabandhu-killers |title=Sheikh Rehana's 1979 speech was 1st global call for justice against Bangabandhu killers |date=2023-08-13 |newspaper=The Daily Sun |language=en |access-date=2023-10-03}} During her exile in the UK in 1980s, Sheikh Rehana assisted Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) to reach out to European Civil Society and UN Organizations on the plight of Bangladeshi people under undemocratic and brutal military dictatorship it had witnessed from 1975 to 1991.{{Cite news |url=https://www.dainikbangla.com.bd/opinion/30986/1694577333 |title=দুঃখজয়ী শেখ রেহানা |date=2023-09-13 |newspaper=Dainik Bangla |language=bn |access-date=2023-10-03 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203120921/https://www.dainikbangla.com.bd/opinion/30986/1694577333 |url-status=live }}

Between the year 2007-08, while Sheikh Hasina was imprisoned under the emergency rule of Fakhruddin Ahmed’s military backed caretaker government, Sheikh Rehana on Hasina's behalf secretly organised Awami League and other political parties to bring back democratic elected government in Dhaka.{{cite news |title=BD SC gives green light for Hasina trial |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/286250/bd-sc-gives-green-light-for-hasina-trial |work=Dawn |date=25 January 2008 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/59421/sheikh-rehana-becomes-adviser-of-tungipara-al |title= Sheikh Rehana becomes adviser of Tungipara AL |date=2017-07-30 |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune |language=en |access-date=2023-10-03}} Sheikh Rehana was made councilor of BAL Dhaka South unit in 2016.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/sheikh-rehana-putul-made-al-councilors-1298749 |title=Sheikh Rehana, Putul made AL councilors |date=2016-10-14 |newspaper=The Daily Star |language=en |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131200817/http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/sheikh-rehana-putul-made-al-councilors-1298749 |url-status=live }}

After Sheikh Hasina's fall, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh has started investigations of various corruption and abuse of power cases against her. The BFIU and ACC has sought financial information from banks about her.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-24 |title=ACC seeks transactions documents of Hasina, Joy, Rehana, Tulip |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/top-news/news/acc-seeks-transactions-documents-hasina-joy-rehana-tulip-3783496 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BFIU seeks bank account details of Sheikh Hasina, Rehana |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/367680/bfiu-seeks-bank-account-details-of-sheikh-hasina |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}} These include a $5 billion embezzlement case of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, allocations of RAJUK plots in Purbanchal by abuse of power and money laundering.{{Cite web |title=Rajuk plot allocation: ACC files 3 cases against Hasina, Rehana and her children |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/corruption/370707/rajuk-plot-allocation-acc-files-3-cases-against |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}} It has also been reported that she is linked to the siphoning of billions of dollars from Bangladesh's banking system through S. Alam.{{Cite web |title='এস আলমের পাচার করা টাকার অর্ধেকই নিয়েছেন রেহানা-জয়' |url=https://www.jugantor.com/politics/844344/& |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Jugantor |language=bn}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-31 |title=S Alam, family face CID probe over Tk1.13 lakh crore laundering |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/cid-investigate-allegations-laundering-tk113-lakh-crore-against-s-alam-family-930056 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}} Law adviser to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Asif Nazrul stated on December 09, 2024 that "Younger sister Sheikh Rehana was Sheikh Hasina's cashier" in context of money laundering and corruption.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=Younger sister Sheikh Rehana was Sheikh Hasina's cashier: Asif Nazrul |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/videos/younger-sister-sheikh-rehana-was-sheikh-hasinas-cashier-asif-nazrul-1014206 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Asif Nazrul brands Hasina, her family as thieves |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/corruption/367609/asif-nazrul-rehana-was-sheikh-hasina%E2%80%99s-cashier |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}

She was allotted a government house/plot in Dhanmondi for a "Token" 100 taka in 2001 by the government of Bangladesh.{{cite news |last1=Liton |first1=Shakhawat |title=Legally right, morally not |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/legally-right-morally-not-23345 |work=The Daily Star |date=9 May 2014 |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801184354/https://www.thedailystar.net/legally-right-morally-not-23345 |url-status=live }} Bangladesh government has a policy and law to allot government plots to prominent personalities, and as such this allotment was made to her considering her position as the country's father of the nation's daughter and the resulting security threat to her and her family members. Government has allotted such lands to many prominent political, social and cultural personalities in the past and still continues to do so. The first allocation was cancelled when Bangladesh Nationalist Party came to power. Later the decision to award the allotment was upheld in the High Court of Bangladesh following a Writ Petition filed by Sheikh Rehana.{{cite news |title=Rehana files writ seeking HC stay on handing over her land to Justice KM Hasan |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/rehana-files-writ-seeking-hc-stay-on-handing-over-her-land-to-justice-km-hasan1 |work=bdnews24.com |date=15 May 2006 |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801142819/https://bdnews24.com/politics/rehana-files-writ-seeking-hc-stay-on-handing-over-her-land-to-justice-km-hasan1 |url-status=live }} But a change of heart saw her return the house to the government despite obtaining High Court order in her favour.{{Cite news |url=https://www.https/ |title=Sheikh Rehana's 1979 speech was 1st global call for justice against Bangabandhu killers |date=2014-05-07 |newspaper=The Daily New Nation |language=en |access-date=2023-10-03 |archive-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819141428/http://https/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2014 she was allocated a house in Gulshan after Awami League came to power for a token price of 1001 taka following the High Court order which upheld the legality of her prior allotment.{{cite news |title=Rehana likely to get a house in Gulshan |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/63690/rehana-likely-to-get-a-house-in-gulshan |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=7 May 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Shamim |date=2014-05-07 |title=Sheikh Rehana getting a govt house in Gulshan |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/05/07/sheikh-rehana-getting-a-govt-house-in-gulshan |newspaper=bdnews24.com |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193848/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/05/07/sheikh-rehana-getting-a-govt-house-in-gulshan |url-status=live }} Given the violent history of brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujib family in 1975, and later attempts to assassinate Sheikh Hasina, which was 19 times in total,{{Cite news |url=http://www.tbsnews.net/supplement/life-haunted-assassins-all-along-308341 |title=A life haunted by assassins all along |date=2021-09-27 |newspaper=The Business Standard |language=en |access-date=2023-10-03 |archive-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417133315/https://www.tbsnews.net/supplement/life-haunted-assassins-all-along-308341 |url-status=live }} and very high security risk towards the immediate Mujib family members, in 2015 she and her children were given lifelong protection by the government of Bangladesh through the Special Security Force.{{cite news |title=Bangabandhu family to get more security, free utility, foreign treatment |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/bangabandhu-family-get-more-security-free-utility-foreign-treatment-87319 |work=The Daily Star |date=25 May 2015 |language=en |archive-date=18 May 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518055841/https://www.thedailystar.net/country/bangabandhu-family-get-more-security-free-utility-foreign-treatment-87319 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/19-facilities-for-Bangabandhu-family | title=19 privileges for Bangabandhu family | date=26 May 2015 | access-date=2 August 2024 | archive-date=2 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802062657/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/19-facilities-for-Bangabandhu-family | url-status=live }} Practice of extending such security protection is not rare for persons with high security risk to their lives.{{cite news|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/246958/cabinet-clears-ssf-bill-to-increase-security-for|title=Cabinet clears SSF Bill to increase security for Bangabandhu's family|work=Dhaka Tribune|date=17 May 2021}} The government also announced free utility for life for her and her family.{{Cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/tighter-security-for-bangabandhu-family |title=Tighter security for Bangabandhu family= |date=2015-05-26 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=2 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802062656/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/tighter-security-for-bangabandhu-family |url-status=live }} After the fall of the Awami League government, her residence in Gulshan was vandalized.{{Cite web |title=AL offices and houses of MPs vandalized all over Bangladesh |url=https://rtvonline.com/english/bangladesh/15922 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=rtvonline.com |language=en}} However, the interim government decided to cancel this law.{{cite news |title=Security laws for Bangabandhu's family members to be cancelled |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/security-laws-bangabandhus-family-members-be-cancelled-927491 |work=The Business Standard |date=28 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828085809/https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/security-laws-bangabandhus-family-members-be-cancelled-927491 |archive-date=28 August 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Writ challenges laws for Bangabandhu's family members |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/writ-challenges-laws-bangabandhus-family-members-3686631 |work=The Daily Star |date=26 August 2024 |language=en |archive-date=28 August 2024 |access-date=28 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828090311/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/writ-challenges-laws-bangabandhus-family-members-3686631 |url-status=live }} On 29 August 2024, the interim government decided to cancel this law.{{cite news |title=Draft to repeal security act for Bangabandhu's family members approved |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/draft-repeal-security-act-bangabandhus-family-members-approved-3689741 |work=The Daily Star |date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829153734/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/draft-repeal-security-act-bangabandhus-family-members-approved-3689741 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |language=en}} Then on September 9, 2024, an ordinance was issued repealing the law.{{cite news |title=বঙ্গবন্ধু পরিবারের বিশেষ নিরাপত্তা আইন বাতিল করে অধ্যাদেশ জারি |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/national/news/685023 |work=Daily Inqilab |date=9 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909164022/https://dailyinqilab.com/national/news/685023 |archive-date=9 September 2024 |language=bn}}{{cite news |title=Law providing special security to Bangabandhu's family abolished |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/357883/law-providing-special-security-to%C2%A0-bangabandhu%E2%80%99s |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=9 September 2024}}

In April 2025, the Anti-Corruption Commission seized Rehana's properties along with her family members after filing a successful petition with Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-30 |title=Court orders seizure of properties belonging to Joy, Saima, Rehana, Bobby, and Azmina |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/court-orders-seizure-properties-belonging-joy-saima-rehana-bobby-and-azmina-1130601 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}

Rehana is married to Shafique Ahmed Siddique, retired professor of Department of Accounting & Information Systems, Faculty of Business Studies (FBS), University of Dhaka.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/its-too-much-574102 |title=It's too much |date=2016-02-18 |newspaper=The Daily Star |language=en |access-date=2017-01-19}} Her son, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, is a councilor of Bangladesh Awami League.{{Cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/10/11/radwan-mujib-siddiq-bobby-joining-awami-league-council-with-cousin-sajeeb-wazed-joy |title=Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby joining Awami League council with cousin Sajeeb Wazed Joy |newspaper=bdnews24.com |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=2017-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193625/http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/10/11/radwan-mujib-siddiq-bobby-joining-awami-league-council-with-cousin-sajeeb-wazed-joy |url-status=dead }} Her daughter, Tulip Siddiq, is a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom House of Commons for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency, her other daughter is Azmina Siddiq.{{Cite news |last=Pasha |first=Syed Nahas |date=2018-10-27 |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/05/08/sheikh-rehana-proud-of-tulip-siddiq-for-her-victory-in-british-election |title=Sheikh Rehana proud of Tulip Siddiq for her victory in British election |newspaper=bdnews24.com |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131195720/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/05/08/sheikh-rehana-proud-of-tulip-siddiq-for-her-victory-in-british-election |url-status=live }}

Rehana often accompanied Sheikh Hasina on her official trips including the state funeral of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom in 2022 and Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Sheikh Hasina arrives in London for Charles III's coronation |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/9xqu25r1ru |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=bdnews24.com |language=en |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626180654/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/9xqu25r1ru |url-status=live }} She also accompanied Hasina after she resigned as Prime Minister and fled Bangladesh to India during the Non-cooperation movement (2024) on 5 August.{{cite news |title=Sheikh Hasina's final hours as a hated autocrat |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz733dly2ero |access-date=7 August 2024 |work=BBC |date=7 August 2024 |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806233028/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz733dly2ero |url-status=live }}

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Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Gopalganj District, Bangladesh

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Category:Awami League politicians

Category:Tungipara Sheikh family

Category:Children of presidents of Bangladesh

Category:Children of prime ministers of Bangladesh

Category:BAF Shaheen College Dhaka alumni

Category:20th-century Bangladeshi politicians

Category:21st-century Bangladeshi politicians

Category:20th-century Bangladeshi women politicians

Category:21st-century Bangladeshi women politicians