Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ranked 46th on Forbes’ 2023 list of the most powerful women in the world.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have been ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively.

Meanwhile, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift takes fifth place, marking the first time since the list’s inception that an entertainer has broken into the top five.

Regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the American business magazine says, “Sheikh Hasina Wazed is currently the world’s longest-serving female head of government.”

“She is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh, is currently serving her fourth term,” says Forbes.

The magazine also highlighted the opposition parties’ call for her resignation ahead of the 12th parliamentary election in Bangladesh.

“Hasina is running for a 5th term in January 2024 despite rising calls from the opposition party for her to resign,” writes the magazine.

Four women from neighbouring India have been named on the list of most powerful women including the Minister Of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman (32nd). The other three on the list are: HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra (60th); Soma Mondal (70th), chairperson of Steel Authority Of India; and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (76th), founder, chair and managing director of Biocon