Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia regional director and daughter of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned from her post following fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
Wazed’s resignation was confirmed in a resignation letter seen by Reuters. Her departure comes amid allegations of financial fraud and misrepresentation of her academic credentials, which she has denied.
The WHO placed Wazed on unpaid administrative leave after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission filed cases against her in March 2025, alleging fraud, forgery and misuse of power. She was first sent on leave in July 2025.
The WHO later accused Wazed of "committing financial fraud in relation to her travel to China" and of misrepresenting her academic credentials, according to a July 3, 2026, letter from her lawyers to the WHO seen by Reuters.
Wazed’s removal from her WHO role had previously been welcomed by Bangladesh’s interim government as a step towards accountability. "We view this as an important first step toward accountability," then-chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam had said in 2025.
"We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Saima 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 had said.
The development comes as Bangladesh continues to seek the extradition of Hasina and other Awami League leaders from India. New Delhi has said the request is being "examined as part of our established processes".
