Saima Wazed resigns as WHO regional director

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Saima Wazed, daughter of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia amid investigations by the WHO and Bangladeshi authorities into allegations of corruption.

Wazed resigned on Wednesday (September 9), according to an exclusive report by Reuters.

She took office as WHO’s regional director at the beginning of 2024 for a five-year term. However, the WHO placed her on unpaid administrative leave late last year amid the allegations.

The development followed a case filed against her by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in March, accusing her of fraud and forgery. She was initially placed on leave in July last year.

In a separate letter sent to the WHO on July 3 by Wazed’s lawyers, the organisation was said to have accused her of financial fraud during a visit to China and of providing false information about her academic qualifications.

Saima Wazed has denied the allegations.

The WHO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, it said Wazed was on leave but declined to comment further about her case to maintain confidentiality.