Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s daughter resigns as WHO regional head after fraud allegations

NEW DELHI/LONDON – Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-east Asia head and daughter of ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned on Sept 9, according to her resignation letter seen by Reuters, following fraud investigations by the UN agency and the Bangladeshi authorities.

Wazed’s case shows how the fallout from Hasina’s ouster following a deadly uprising against her around mid-2024 has spread to her family members, beyond her political allies.

Many of Hasina’s allies face criminal charges, including for alleged corruption in Bangladesh, or live in self-imposed exile as she does.

In a statement to Reuters on Sept 10, the WHO said a committee had recommended Wazed’s dismissal the day before her resignation.

The WHO placed Wazed, who took office as its South-east Asia regional director in early 2024 for a five-year term, on unpaid administrative leave late in 2025.

She was first sent on leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, under an interim government that replaced Hasina, filed charges against her in March that year, alleging fraud and forgery.

The WHO accused Wazed of “committing financial fraud in relation to her travel to China” and misrepresenting her academic credentials, according to a separate letter from her lawyers to the WHO on July 3, 2026, seen by Reuters.

Wazed has denied the allegations.

The WHO also alleged that she had illegally acquired a plot of land in Bangladesh, according to her resignation letter to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Wazed said she acquired the land before joining the WHO and was entitled to it under a Bangladeshi law that covered the families of the country’s independence leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father.

Loss of trust: Wazed

“I was elected to the position of regional director in order to serve the countries in my region, which I had sincerely done,” Wazed said in her resignation letter to Tedros, sent late on Sept 9.

“Since you continue to prevent me from effectively carrying out my duties, I have lost all trust and confidence in your leadership of WHO,” she added.

“Moreover, after nearly one year without any remuneration following your decision to place me on unpaid leave, my financial situation has become untenable. In these circumstances, I am choosing to step aside.”

Wazed declined to comment further.

The WHO said its regional committee and executive board would now consider her resignation.

A spokesperson said by e-mail that the matter had been handled “with due regard for fairness and due process, while safeguarding the interests of the organisation and its ability to fulfil its mandate”.

In August, WHO said Wazed was on leave but declined to comment further on her case to maintain confidentiality.

WHO due to hold fresh election in January, says source

Two sources said earlier that the UN agency was planning to formally remove Wazed. One said the WHO would announce nominations for the role on Oct 12, vet applications in December and hold an election on Jan 24.

On Sept 10, the agency said Dr Nilesh Buddha would continue as officer-in-charge pending the appointment of a new regional head.

The sources declined to be named given the sensitivity of the matter.

Regional directors are among the world’s most influential health policy officials, with duties including responding to outbreaks and emergencies and adapting WHO policies to local conditions. They are elected every five years by member states, including Bangladesh and India in the South-east Asia region.

In the July letter, Wazed, through her lawyers, denied any travel fraud, saying it was an administrative oversight by an assistant processing routine reimbursement requests and involved US$901 (S$1,100).

On the credentials accusation, she said she holds an honorary doctorate for her work on autism in Bangladesh and had been clear about this qualification with Tedros. REUTERS