Interim Govt doesn’t want to work with WHO thru’ Saima Wazed Putul

The interim government has requested for direct communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), citing Saima Wazed Putul, current regional director for South-East Asia and daughter of the ousted prime minister, as “nonfunctional”.

Apurbo Jahangir, deputy press secretary to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, stated it at a press conference held on Wednesday evening at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

He said Saima Wazed Putul is an accused in a corruption case.

Apurbo Jahangir said the Bangladesh government has sent a letter to the WHO, mentioning that it wants to communicate with the organization directly, not through any regional director.

He said Saima Wazed Putul is a family member of the deposed autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina and that there are allegations of financial irregularities and pending criminal cases against her. “She is nonfunctional,” Apurbo added.

The government sources confirmed that the foreign ministry recently sent a formal letter to the WHO, seeking direct engagement with the organisation on health-related matters due to concerns regarding Putul’s role.

The letter has been sent to the WHO through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is learnt.