Latest news with #SaimaWazed
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
WHO regional head placed on leave amid corruption allegations
A regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been placed on leave after being charged with fraud, forgery and misuse of power. Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was elected as head of the WHO's South East Asia (SEARO) regional office in November 2023. But the victory was marred by claims her mother used her influence to garner support, and the 52-year-old Ms Wazed was charged by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission in March. The authorities have since seized some of her assets. Among the accusations against her are claims that she forged documents while campaigning to become the regional director, and leveraged her political ties to channel some $2.7 million through a Bangladesh non-profit that she chairs called the Shuchona Foundation. A spokesperson for the WHO said: 'WHO's Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave. During this period, Dr Catharina Boehme is serving as Officer-in-Charge.' Ms Wazed did not respond to questions from The Telegraph and has not commented publicly on the WHO's decision. Her brother, Sajeeb Wazed, previously described the corruption investigation as a 'smear campaign' by the new Bangladesh administration, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. An unnamed official from Mr Yunus' administration told the Financial Times that Ms Wazed's removal is an 'important first step towards accountability' and 'restores integrity to this prestigious role'. The WHO's SEARO region is headquartered in India. Since a warrant was issued for Ms Wazed's arrest in Bangladesh she's been unable to return, while the country's WHO office has reportedly refused to work with her as regional-director. Her ability to travel to other places in the region has also been curtailed. SEARO is one of six WHO regions, and covers two billion people in 10 countries – in May this year, Indonesia swapped to be part of the Western Pacific region instead. It has an annual budget of more than $500 million (£371 million), and has a significant role in health-related policies and programmes across the area.
Mint
5 days ago
- Health
- Mint
WHO sends Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed on leave amid corruption charges
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 by the interim Bangladesh government. In a reply to ANI, WHO said, 'WHO's Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave.' 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. 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)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
WHO sends Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed on leave, says " no further comment at this time"
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has placed Saima Wazed, Regional Director for South-East Asia, on leave following corruption allegations brought forth by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission. Dr. Catharina Boehme has been appointed as Officer-in-Charge during her absence. The interim Bangladesh government welcomes WHO's decision, advocating for Wazed's removal and restoration of integrity to the role. WHO sends Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed on leave, says " no further comment at this time" Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 a reply to ANI, WHO said, "WHO's Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave."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 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 Catharina Boehme is expected to reach the WHO SEARO office in New Delhi on July 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."
India.com
7 days ago
- Health
- India.com
Bad news for ex Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina as her daughter Saima Wazed put on..., Yunus government accuses her of...
New Delhi: Saima Wazed, daughter of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Haisna and the Regional Director for WHO South East Asia, has been sent on indefinite leave by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to the reports, the move comes amid Bangladesh's interim government's claim that she was involved in corruption during Hasina's regime. Health Policy Watch reported that WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus has circulated an email informing the staff that Wazed would be on leave from July 11. His email further said that Dr Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general, would replace Wazed in the UN health agency's South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). Saima Wazed: All You Need To Know Saima Wazed is the daughter of Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. She was born 9 December 1972 She served as the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization from November 1, 2023 to July 11, 2025. Saima Wazed graduated from Barry University. She is a licensed school psychologist. Wazed organized the first South Asian conference on Autism in 2011 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She is the chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders. She campaigned for 'Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders' resolution at the World Health Assembly which adopted the resolution, Autism Speaks praised her for spearheading 'a truly global push for support for this resolution'. She had been drafted as a global autism advocate of World Health Organization's (WHO) 25-member Expert Advisory Panel on mental health for 4 years in 2014. In November, 2016, Wazed had been elected as chairperson of International Jury Board meeting of UNESCO for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. In April 2017, Wazed was designated as WHO Champion for Autism' in South-East Asia. In July, 2017 she became the WHO's goodwill ambassador for autism in the South-East Asia Region. Since 2022, Wazed has been a member of the Commission for Universal Health convened by Chatham House and co-chaired by Helen Clark and Jakaya Kikwete. Charges Against Wazed Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged cases against Wazed in connection with her academic qualification while seeking the high-profile job earlier this year. According to ACC's charges, Wazed used her mother's influence to achieve the position of the regional chief of the WHO. As per the report, she falsely stated she held an honorary position at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, a claim the university has refuted. Wazed is also accused of being involved in extensive corruption during her mother's tenure as Bangladesh's leader. According to the ACC, she used her influence and connections to unlawfully obtain approximately $2.8 million from multiple banks, channeling the money through the Shuchona Foundation, an organization she formerly led.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed proceeds on indefinite leave in the wake of corruption charges in Bangladesh
Saima Wazed, Regional Director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Region, has proceeded on indefinite leave from Friday (July 11, 2025), the global health body's spokesperson confirmed to The Hindu on Saturday (July 12, 2025) in an email response. The WHO did not respond to the question of why Ms. Wazed had proceeded on leave. Catharina Boehme is serving as officer-in-charge in Ms. Wazed place. The move follows Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission filing cases against Ms. Wazed for fraud, forgery, and misuse of power. Ms. Wazed is the daughter of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country in August 2024. Ms. Saima Wazed's appointment as Regional Director has also been under question, with charges of having used her mother's influence during the campaign, and of providing false information on her academic record during in her candidature for the post, allegedly violating Section 468 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and Section 471 (forging a document). According to the WHO's website, Ms. Wazed took office as the WHO Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region on February 1, 2024, for a five-year term. In this role, Ms. Wazed has been mandated to direct international health work in 11 countries, an area with a population of over two billion people. Prior to taking up this role, Ms. Wazed served as advisor on mental health and autism to the WHO Director-General, and was a member of the WHO's expert advisory panel on mental health, her website states. Ms. Wazed is a licensed school psychologist, nationally certified in the U.S. She was also Chief Advisor for the Bangladesh government's National Mental Health Strategic Plan; Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Bangladesh; and focal person for people with disabilities in the Bangladesh Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
