# Saima Wazed
**Saima Wazed** (Bengali: সায়মা ওয়াজেদ), also known as Saima Wazed Hossain or Saima Wazed Putul, is a Bangladeshi school psychologist and autism advocate who served as Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region from 1 February 2024 until her resignation on 9 September 2026. She is the daughter of [Sheikh Hasina](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheikh-hasina), the former [Prime Minister of Bangladesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/prime-minister-of-bangladesh) who was ousted in August 2024.[1](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-saima-wazed-whos-south-east-asia-regional-director-resigns-day-after-member-states-recommend-her-termination/) Her tenure was marked by recognition of her work on autism and mental health, followed by fraud allegations from Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission, a year on leave, and termination proceedings by WHO member states.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-saima-wazed-sheikh-hasina-daughter-fraud-allegation-resigns-who-post-10871087/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| WHO office | Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region; nominated 1 November 2023, appointed by the Executive Board 23 January 2024, term began 1 February 2024[3](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-11-2023-ms-saima-wazed-nominated-to-lead-who-south-east-asia-region) • [4](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia) |
| Distinction | First person from Bangladesh and second woman to hold the Regional Director post for South-East Asia[4](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia) |
| Scope of role | Directed international health work in 11 countries with over 2 billion people[4](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia) |
| Stated priorities | Mental health and well-being, health equity for women and children, harnessing technology for public health[4](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia) |
| Earlier advocacy | Organized the 2011 Dhaka conference on autism that preceded three international resolutions and two Bangladeshi laws of 2013[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/) |
| WHO honors | Excellence in Public Health Award (September 2014); WHO Champion for Autism, South-East Asia Region (2017)[6](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-04-2017-saima-wazed-hossain-is-who-champion-for-autism-in-south-east-asia-region) |
| End of tenure | Placed on leave 11 July 2025; Regional Committee recommended termination 8 September 2026; resigned 9 September 2026[7](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/controversial-who-regional-director-placed-on-indefinite-leave/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-saima-wazed-sheikh-hasina-daughter-fraud-allegation-resigns-who-post-10871087/) |
## Autism advocacy in Bangladesh
Wazed is a licensed school psychologist who worked in private and public schools in Florida, United States, from 2001 to 2008, specializing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/) Her advocacy began in 2009 through stakeholder meetings in Bangladesh and international meetings held during the [United Nations General Assembly](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-nations-general-assembly).[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/)
**The 2011 conference and its aftermath.** In 2011 she helped formulate a partnership between the [Government of Bangladesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-bangladesh), WHO, and [Autism Speaks](https://www.edgepedia.org/autism-speaks) to organize the Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities in Dhaka, the first conference in Bangladesh focused solely on the needs of persons with ASD and neurodevelopmental disorders.[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/) According to her biography, the awareness generated by the conference contributed to an international declaration on autism and three resolutions: WHO South-[East Asia](https://www.edgepedia.org/east-asia) resolution SEA/RC65/R8 in 2012, United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/82 in 2012, and World Health Assembly resolution WHA 67.8 in 2014.[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/) The same account credits this advocacy with the adoption of Bangladesh's Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act 2013 and the Protection of Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disability Trust Act 2013.[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/)
WHO's regional office described her role in institutional terms: she launched the South-East Asia Autism Network in July 2011, chaired Bangladesh's National Advisory Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism from 2012, and received the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office's Excellence in Public Health Award in September 2014.[6](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-04-2017-saima-wazed-hossain-is-who-champion-for-autism-in-south-east-asia-region) In 2017 the regional office designated her its Champion for Autism, a role supporting advocacy for including ASD in national policies and promoting WHO's mental health initiatives.[6](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-04-2017-saima-wazed-hossain-is-who-champion-for-autism-in-south-east-asia-region) WHO's news release on the appointment noted that in Bangladesh the Ministry of Health had integrated mental health care into primary health care, established an Institute of Neuro-development and Autism, and placed screening wings for childhood disability in 10 medical colleges, crediting much of the pioneering work to her.[6](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-04-2017-saima-wazed-hossain-is-who-champion-for-autism-in-south-east-asia-region)
She chaired the Shuchona Foundation, a Bangladeshi organization working on neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health, from 2013 to 2022, and contributed to the Bangladesh National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020–2030.[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/) Her other roles included Advisor to the WHO Director-General on Mental Health and Autism (2019), [Commissioner](https://www.edgepedia.org/commissioner) of the Chatham House Commission for Universal Health (from 2022), and Thematic Ambassador for 'Vulnerability' of the [Climate Vulnerable Forum](https://www.edgepedia.org/climate-vulnerable-forum) (from 2020).[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/)
## Election as WHO Regional Director
Member States voted to nominate Wazed as the next Regional Director for South-East Asia during a closed meeting at the Seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee on 1 November 2023 in New Delhi.[3](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-11-2023-ms-saima-wazed-nominated-to-lead-who-south-east-asia-region) The contest pitted her against Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya of Nepal, a senior WHO official; the Regional Committee report records that both candidates presented their vision in a public session before the closed vote.[8](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375926/sea-rc76-22-eng.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1) The Daily Star-affiliated newspaper Daily Sun reported that she received eight of the ten votes cast.[9](https://www.daily-sun.com/opinion/895236) Her campaign drew public commentary because she is the daughter of the sitting Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, with allegations of nepotism exchanged during the contest.[10](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-regional-director-saima-wazed-accused-of-fraud-and-forgery-in-her-election-campaign/)
The WHO Executive Board confirmed the appointment on 23 January 2024 in Geneva, and she took office on 1 February 2024 for a five-year term, directing health work in 11 countries with over 2 billion people.[4](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia) In her acceptance speech she named mental health her first priority, calling it "a long-neglected area," and said she would work toward parity between physical and mental health in health care systems.[5](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/)
## Allegations, leave, and resignation
In January 2025 Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opened an investigation into claims that she had forged documents during her campaign and misused funds collected for the Shuchona Foundation; in March 2025 the ACC filed two cases against her for fraud, forgery, and misuse of power.[7](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/controversial-who-regional-director-placed-on-indefinite-leave/) The charges allege she misrepresented an honorary role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University as an academic credential in her WHO candidacy, and misused her influence to collect about US$2.8 million from various banks for the foundation.[10](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-regional-director-saima-wazed-accused-of-fraud-and-forgery-in-her-election-campaign/) Wazed has denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated.[1](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-saima-wazed-whos-south-east-asia-regional-director-resigns-day-after-member-states-recommend-her-termination/)
WHO placed her on indefinite leave on 11 July 2025, with Assistant Director-General Catharina Boehme initially serving as Officer in Charge.[7](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/controversial-who-regional-director-placed-on-indefinite-leave/) WHO also investigated alleged irregularities in a travel claim of about $901 related to a trip to China, which her lawyers attributed to an administrative error.[1](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-saima-wazed-whos-south-east-asia-regional-director-resigns-day-after-member-states-recommend-her-termination/) In December 2025 her leave was converted from paid to unpaid, a step she described as retaliation for her request for an investigation into the Director-General's office.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-saima-wazed-sheikh-hasina-daughter-fraud-allegation-resigns-who-post-10871087/)
On 8 September 2026, at the 79th Regional Committee meeting, member states recommended that her appointment be terminated; Wazed resigned the next day, 9 September 2026.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-saima-wazed-sheikh-hasina-daughter-fraud-allegation-resigns-who-post-10871087/) WHO stated that the matter had been handled through its established internal processes with due regard for fairness and due process, and that Dr Nilesh Buddha would continue as Officer-in-Charge pending the appointment of a new Regional Director.[11](https://dailypioneer.com/news/slug-lite/saima-wazed-resigns-as-who-regional-director-after-adverse-internal-report?year=2026) In her resignation letter she cited harassment and intimidation and said that after nearly a year without remuneration her financial situation had become untenable.[12](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/sheikh-hasinas-daughter-saima-wazed-resigns-as-who-regional-head-after-fraud-allegations/articleshow/134011930.cms?from=mdr)
## References
1. [EXCLUSIVE: Saima Wazed, WHO's South-East Asia Regional Director Resigns Day After Member States Recommend Her Termination, Health Policy Watch](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-saima-wazed-whos-south-east-asia-regional-director-resigns-day-after-member-states-recommend-her-termination/)
2. [Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima quits WHO post, a day after it recommended her termination, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-saima-wazed-sheikh-hasina-daughter-fraud-allegation-resigns-who-post-10871087/)
3. [Ms Saima Wazed nominated to lead WHO South-East Asia Region, WHO](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-11-2023-ms-saima-wazed-nominated-to-lead-who-south-east-asia-region)
4. [Ms Saima Wazed takes charge as Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, WHO](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-02-2024-ms-saima-wazed-takes-charge--as-regional-director--who-south-east-asia)
5. [Biography, Saima Wazed Official Website](https://saima-wazed.com/biography/)
6. [Saima Wazed Hossain is WHO Champion for Autism in South-East Asia Region, WHO](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/01-04-2017-saima-wazed-hossain-is-who-champion-for-autism-in-south-east-asia-region)
7. [Controversial WHO Regional Director Placed on Leave, Health Policy Watch](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/controversial-who-regional-director-placed-on-indefinite-leave/)
8. [Report of the Seventy-sixth Session, WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375926/sea-rc76-22-eng.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1)
9. [Who Governs WHO South-East Asia?, Daily Sun](https://www.daily-sun.com/opinion/895236)
10. [WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed Accused of Fraud and Forgery by Bangladesh Authorities, Health Policy Watch](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-regional-director-saima-wazed-accused-of-fraud-and-forgery-in-her-election-campaign/)
11. [Saima Wazed Resigns as WHO Regional Director after adverse internal report, Daily Pioneer](https://dailypioneer.com/news/slug-lite/saima-wazed-resigns-as-who-regional-director-after-adverse-internal-report?year=2026)
12. [Hasina's daughter resigns as WHO regional head after fraud allegations, Reuters via The Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/sheikh-hasinas-daughter-saima-wazed-resigns-as-who-regional-head-after-fraud-allegations/articleshow/134011930.cms?from=mdr)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Social life and human behavior › Relationships and social issues › Social movements and social issues › Social activists and public advocates › Human rights and whistleblower advocates › Surnames Me to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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