Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s daughter quits WHO post amid fraud allegations

Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia regional director and daughter of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, submitted her resignation on Wednesday, ending a tenure that began in early 2024 and was scheduled to run until 2029. The resignation was confirmed through a letter seen by Reuters and addressed to WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Wazed’s departure follows a series of investigations by both the United Nations health agency and Bangladeshi authorities. Bangladesh’s Anti‑Corruption Commission filed cases against her in March 2025, alleging fraud, forgery and misuse of power. The WHO subsequently placed her on unpaid administrative leave, first in July 2025, after the commission’s filings.

The allegations against Wazed include financial fraud linked to travel expenses for a trip to China, misrepresentation of her academic credentials, and questions surrounding the acquisition of a plot of land in Bangladesh. The WHO’s own correspondence, dated 3 July 2026, cited these concerns in a letter from her lawyers to the agency. Wazed has denied all of the accusations.

During the period of unpaid leave, Wazed reportedly experienced financial strain, which she cited as a factor in her decision to step down. In her resignation letter, she wrote that she had lost “all trust and confidence” in the WHO leadership and that the lack of remuneration for nearly a year had made her financial situation untenable.

She also emphasized that she had been elected to the regional director position to serve the countries of Southeast Asia and that she had “sincerely” performed those duties. The letter indicated that she felt unable to carry out her responsibilities effectively while under investigation and administrative suspension.

Bangladesh’s interim government welcomed the resignation, describing it as an “important first step toward accountability” and calling for a permanent resolution that would remove Wazed from the role, revoke associated privileges, and restore the credibility of the position. Wazed continues to reject the fraud and credential allegations.