0
Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned from her position as the Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). News agency Reuters reported that she resigned amidst investigations into various allegations, including fraud.
The government of Sheikh Hasina fell in mid-2024 following a popular uprising. Subsequently, various allegations and lawsuits emerged against her political associates and family members.
Saima Wazed took office as the Regional Director for the WHO South-East Asia Region for a five-year term at the beginning of 2024. The organization later sent her on unpaid leave.
Reuters reported that the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Saima Wazed in March 2025 on charges of deception and fraud. She was then sent on leave for the first time in July of that year.
According to a letter sent by Saima Wazed’s lawyers to the WHO, obtained by Reuters, the organization has accused her of financial fraud during a visit to China and providing false information regarding her academic qualifications.
Furthermore, in her resignation letter addressed to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Saima Wazed claimed that she has also been accused of illegally occupying land in Bangladesh.
However, Saima Wazed denied the allegations concerning the land. She claimed that she owned the land before joining WHO and had the right to acquire it under a Bangladeshi law. She asserted that this law provided special privileges for family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina’s father.
In her resignation letter, sent to the WHO Director-General on Wednesday night, Saima Wazed wrote that she was elected as Regional Director to serve the countries of the region and had sincerely fulfilled her responsibilities.
In her resignation letter, she further alleged that she was unable to perform her duties effectively due to decisions made by the WHO Director-General. She also stated that her financial situation had become unbearable due to not receiving any salary or remuneration for nearly a year.
When asked for comment by Reuters on the matter, the WHO did not immediately respond. Last month, the organization stated that Saima Wazed was on leave but declined to comment further on the ongoing issues against her due to confidentiality.
Reuters reported that two sources had previously stated that the WHO was planning to officially remove Saima Wazed from her post.
One source claimed that nominations for the position might be announced on October 12. After vetting applications in December, a vote to elect a new Regional Director will be held on January 24.
WHO Regional Directors are among the organization’s key health policy officials. They play a crucial role in responding to disease outbreaks and emergencies, as well as aligning the organization’s policies with local realities.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the WHO last July, Saima Wazed denied the allegations of financial fraud related to travel. She claimed that the issue arose due to an administrative error by one of her assistants concerning a $901 reimbursement claim.
She also provided an explanation regarding the allegations about her academic qualifications. Saima Wazed claimed that she received an honorary doctorate degree in recognition of her work on autism in Bangladesh and had previously informed the WHO Director-General about this.