BANGLADESH

A Gallup Poll survey of 21 Asian heads of state ranks Sheikh Hasina seventh with 77 percent approval.

The Bangladesh prime minister received higher approval rating than her counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Japan or India, according to the survey conducted in 2011.

The Washington-based Gallup Poll, specialising in public opinion surveys, found that just about a fifth of the people (19 percent) disapproved of Hasina and 4 percent would not answer.

The results of the survey conducted in the third year of her rule were published on Friday.

However, the survey showed majorities in more than half of the surveyed countries and regions approved of their chief executives, with leaders in Southeast and South Asia earning some of the highest marks in the region.

Results are based on face-to-face and telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, aged 15 and more, conducted between April 5 and Dec 4, 2011.

It showed New Zealand prime minister John Key ranked 9th with an approval rating of 72 percent while the Indian chief executive Manmohan Singh ranked 11th with 59 percent approval. Australian prime minister Julia Gillard came 14th with 45 percent and Japan's Yoshihiko Noda ranked 15th with 44 percent.

The survey found more leaders in Asia lost support than gained it between 2011 and 2010, despite more residents expressing approval for their leadership than disapproval in most of the countries surveyed.

According to the report, the 20 percent approval rating that Pakistanis gave their president was the lowest in the region, while Laos topped with 97 percent followed by Cambodia and Sri Lanka in second and third.

The report said, Laotians, Cambodians, and Sri Lankans were most likely to express support for their leaders, with more than nine in 10 saying they approve of their job performance.

"Economic stability and peace dividends may help explain some of the relatively high approval that leaders of Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka get from their constituents."

"Laos' 7 percent or better economic growth since 2008, for example, likely contributes to residents' approval of President Choummali Saignason," the report said.

According to the report, Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka may still be benefiting from residents' residual euphoria following the 2009 end of the country's 26-year civil war.

In contrast, political discord, internal strife, and geo-political complexities likely affected approval ratings for leaders in Hong Kong, Nepal and Pakistan.

"Pakistanis have never placed much confidence in President Asif Ali Zardari's leadership; throughout his tenure, the country has grappled with terrorism, challenging relations with the US and a struggling economy," the report said.

The report, however, did not elaborate on the Bangladeshi situation and why it finds itself among the top 10 in Asia despite its volatile politics, soaring food and fuel prices, and chronic utility crises including severe electricity and gas shortage.

It explained, recent government corruption scandals and economic troubles have likely tarnished the image of the Indian PM, who has seen a slight dip in his approvals.

Singapore's Lee Hsien Loong has maintained relatively high approval ratings compared with ratings that other leaders around the world received in 2011.

"Gradually declining approval ratings for Lee's People's Action Party may be contributing to the decline in his own rating," according to the Gallup report.

The leaders of Malaysia, Cambodia, and Taiwan saw marginal improvement in their already positive ratings.

The Gallup analysis says, compared with other global regions, there will be few elections in Asia and leadership will remain stable for the duration of 2012.

The findings suggest that those leaders without a majority of their constituents' support need to address the economic, social, and political concerns of their populations.

"Given the lack of support among residents in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and South Korea, these leaders in particular will continue to struggle in governing their respective countries."

South Korea's Lee Myung-bak will continue to grapple with engaging constituents concerned with corruption allegations and provocations involving North Korea, it said.

The survey has an error margin 2-4 percentage points, plus or minus.