Saima Wazed Resigns as WHO Southeast Asia Director Amid Fraud Allegations

Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization's Southeast Asia regional director and daughter of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned from her position. Her resignation follows fraud investigations conducted by both the WHO and Bangladeshi authorities. Wazed had been on unpaid administrative leave since late last year, with her leave beginning in July 2025 after Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission filed charges of fraud and forgery against her in March of that year.

The WHO accused Wazed of committing financial fraud regarding travel to China, misrepresenting her academic credentials, and illegally acquiring a plot of land in Bangladesh. Wazed has denied these allegations. She stated that the travel issue was an administrative oversight by an assistant involving 901 dollars. Regarding her credentials, she asserted that she holds an honorary doctorate and had been transparent about this with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. She further claimed the land was acquired before she joined the WHO and was permitted under a law covering the family of independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In her resignation letter, Wazed cited a loss of trust and confidence in the leadership of the WHO, stating that she was prevented from carrying out her duties. She also noted that her financial situation had become untenable after nearly one year without pay. Sources indicated that the WHO had been planning to formally remove her, with a timeline for a new election set for January 24. The resignation reflects the broader fallout facing the family and allies of Sheikh Hasina following her ouster in mid 2024.