Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is the first ever woman Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament. She was elected Speaker for the first time in the Ninth Parliament on April 30, 2013. Shirin was elected for the second time as Speaker of Tenth Parliament on January 29, 2014, for the third time as Speaker of 11th Parliament on 30 January 2019 and for the fourth time as Speaker of 12th Parliament on 30 January 2024. She is a Member of the 12th Parliament of Bangladesh (24 Rangpur-6) from Bangladesh Awami League. Dr. Chaudhury was elected as Chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee on October 09, 2014 for a term of three years. Dr. Chaudhury received Commonwealth Gender Chair on behalf of Bangladesh for year 2010-2011.
Shirin was the State Minister for Women & Children Affairs (2009-2013). Serving in the said position Shirin actively engaged in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. National Women Development Policy 2010, Children Policy 2011 and Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 were formulated under her leadership. Dr. Chaudhury, an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, enrolled with Bangladesh Bar Council, had been a practicing lawyer for the last sixteen years.
Having obtained Commonwealth Scholarship, Shirin completed Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy in Law) in year 2000 from University of Essex, United Kingdom. Her Thesis is on “The Right to Life”. Her area of specialization is Constitutional Law and Human Rights. Dr. Shirin was conferred honorary Doctorate from the University of Essex on 16 July 2014. She completed LL.B (Honours) and LL.M. from University of Dhaka, securing First Class First position. She secured first position in the Dhaka Board SSC (Humanities) Examination and second position in Dhaka Board HSC (Humanities) Examination in the Combined Merit List.
Dr. Chaudhury has conducted many cases on violation of human rights involving constitutional issues. Dr. Chaudhury was a panel lawyer for Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2008-2009. Legal area of her practice involves cases on Judicial Review by way of Writs. She also worked on Sustainable Development area- Gender Issues; Pro-bono Public Interest Litigation; issues concerning Human Securities and Right to Life.
Dr. Shirin Chaudhury has teaching experience in different universities and educational institutions . She also worked with many human rights organizations and women rights organizations in promoting the cause of rights based approach. She developed dialogue/concept papers etc. with various relevant NGO's and Human Rights organizations on human rights issues. Dr. Shirin S. Chaudhury was the Editor of Bangladesh Legal Decisions (BLD), Law Report Series published by Bangladesh Bar Council. (2003-2009 (July) Edition).
Dr. Chaudhury was awarded Asia Society’s Humanitarian Service Award on 09 June 2010 in recognition of her role as a leader in advocating the elimination of violence against women and mainstreaming women’s empowerment and employment in Bangladesh. She received Ananya Award 2013, Agrani Bank Women Honorary Award 2014, World Women Leadership Congress Award 2015 in Mumbai-India and Women of the Decade in Public Life and Leadership Award 2021 at the Asian Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2021 Organized by Bangladesh-India Business Council of the Women- Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI).
Dr. Chaudhury is married to Syed Ishtiaque Hossain, a Pharmacist (Pharmaceutical Consultant). She is the mother of two children. Her elder daughter Lamisa Shirin Hossain is doing job in United States and son Ibtesham Rafiq Hossain is doing his graduation in Bard College, New York, USA.