WHO sends Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed on leave, says ‘no further comment at this time’

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region, on leave amid corruption charges raised against the interim Bangladesh government. The WHO said, “WHO’s Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave.”

The WHO also said that Dr Catharina Boehme will serve as Officer-in-Charge during this period. “During this period, Dr Catharina Boehme is serving as Officer-in-Charge,” the organisation stated. When asked further about why Saima Wazed was sent on leave, WHO said, “We have no further comment at this time”.

According to reports, action was taken after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission filed cases against her for fraud, forgery, and misuse of power. Dr Catharina Boehme is expected to reach the WHO SEARO office in New Delhi on July 15.

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed, regional director of the World Health… pic.twitter.com/QNd3X1mUsZ

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 12, 2025

Reacting to the action taken by WHO, Bangladesh Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a Facebook post on Saturday, “We welcome the World Health Organisation’s reported decision to place Saima Wazed on indefinite leave amid ongoing investigations into serious allegations of fraud, forgery and abuse of power. We view this as an important first step toward accountability.”

He added, “We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Ms. Wazed from her position, revokes all associated privileges and restores integrity to this prestigious role and the credibility of the UN system as a whole”. He also said, “The people of Bangladesh and the global public are happy to see the emergence of transparency, honesty, and justice”. (ANI)