Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the United Nations’ General Assembly under a global spotlight a day after receiving the world’s highest environmental accolade — Champions of the Earth — while she earned Bangladesh international limelight, winning 18 prestigious awards since 1997.

A three-time elected premier, Sheikh Hasina first drew an extra international focus when the UN honoured her with its UNESCO Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize in 1998 a year after Bangladesh saw the end of a nearly two-decade old insurgency in the southeastern hills in line with peace talks with the ethnic rebels.

‘Following the footsteps of your father, who dedicated his life to founding a nation, you in turn have taken that nation along the road of peace and reconciliation . . . Your peace-making efforts within your country’s borders have been matched by your dedication to the cause of a global culture of peace,’ the then UNESCO director general Federico Mayor told her while handing over the award on 24 September 1999. 

The international academic community also acknowledged her contributions with renowned universities in the United States, Britain, Australia, Belgium and India conferring nine honorary doctorate degrees on laws, literature, liberal arts and humane letters.

In 2010, the Bangladesh leader received the UN award for Bangladesh’s MDG achievements for achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG) particularly in reducing child mortality.

In recognition to her continued commitment to the country’s development, last week she was conferred with the ‘ICT Sustainable Development Award’ for promoting the use of ICTs towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Women in Parliament (WIP) and UNIESCO awarded her with the ‘WIP Global Forum Award’ for her leading role in reducing gender gap in political sphere in South and South East Asia in March this year and ‘Tree of Peace’ Award for promotion of girls’ and women’s education in September, 2014. 

The Premier won the ‘South-South Award’ twice, one in 2011 and another in 2013 for her contribution in reducing child and maternal mortality rate through using information technology in health sector and to fight against hunger and poverty.

She was also awarded the Pearl S Buck Award (1999), CERES Medal by FAO (1999), Mother Teresa Award, MK Gandhi Award, Indira Gandhi Peace Award (2009), Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque, Head of State Medal, Global Diversity Award (2011, 2012), and Netaji Memorial Award (1997). 

Besides, Cornell University of the United States awarded Sheikh Hasina with a certificate in September 2014 for her contribution in attaining self-sufficiency in food production and ICT development. 

Apart from these, Sheikh Hasina has been conferred honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts by the University of Alberta Dundee in the United Kingdom in 1997, honorary Doctor of Laws by the Boston University in the United States and the Waseda University of Japan respectively.  India’s Bishwa Bharati University conferred her with the degree of Desikottama (Doctor of Literature) while Australian National University awarded her the honorary Doctor of Laws in 1999. 

Peoples Friendship University of Russia also conferred her honorary doctorate degree in 2005 for her contribution for establishing peace, democracy and human rights.

At home she was conferred honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Dhaka University in 1999 and while Catholic University of Brussels offered her the identical honour in 2000.