Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has climbed up on influential business magazine Forbes’ list of 100 most powerful women in the world this year.
She now ranks 36th on the list published on Monday. Last year, she ranked 59th.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has topped the list this year for a sixth consecutive time, with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton getting the slot for the second most powerful woman.
Microsoft owner Bill Gates’ wife Melinda has dropped to fourth place, with US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen replacing her in the third spot.
The others in the top 10 of the list include IMF’s Christine Lagarde (6th), General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.
US First Lady Michelle Obama, who had ranked 10th last year, came in 13th on the list this time.
Of the 100 female politicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, philanthropists and CEOs from 29 countries, 51 are from the US and nine from China.
The youngest powerful woman on the list is the 41-year-old Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. She ranks 55th on the list.
Britain’s 90-year-old Queen Elizabeth II is the most aged woman on the list. The queen moved up to 29 from last year’s 41st.
In the profile of Sheikh Hasina, Forbes said the 68-year-old commands the world’s eighth largest population (162 million people) since 2009.
“Critics contend that she can, and should, be exercising her influence to address the recent spate of hate crimes against journalists, teachers, and gay activists.”
Forbes said her administration ‘has been largely silent, and claims the attacks did not come from Islamic radicals, despite evidence that points to the contrary’.
“Critics worry the failure to roundly condemn the murders only sets the stage for worse, further destabilising a government that already lost credibility in the 2014 elections, which left hundreds dead or injured,” it added.
Hasina has been leading the ruling Awami League since 1981. She had been in power from 1996 to 2001, and 2009 to 2014.
She was elected prime minister for the second consecutive term through the 10th national election in January 2014.
Four from India, none of them politicians, who were on last year’s list are also on it this year.
They are State Bank of India Managing Director Arundhati Bhattarcharya (25th), ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar (40th), Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (77th) and HT Media Chairperson Shobhana Bhartia (93th).
Nepal’s first female President Bidya Devi Bhandari ranked 52nd on the list.
Among celebrities, Oprah Winfrey ranked 21st on the list. She was in the 12th position last year.
Source: Bd news24
