Geneva: Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for the South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), has been placed on indefinite leave. This decision comes in the wake of corruption allegations, with her leave starting from Friday, July 11. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the action was taken by the WHO four months after Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed cases against Wazed. These cases involve accusations of fraud, forgery, and misuse of power. WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed WHO staff via an internal email about Wazed's leave, indicating that WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Catharina Boehme would assume her responsibilities temporarily as the Officer in Charge. The allegations against Saima Wazed, who is the daughter of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, relate to her efforts to become the regional director. Wazed assumed office in January 2024, but her campaign was reportedly tainted by claims that her influential mother played a role in securing her election. Formal charges suggest that Wazed provided inaccurate information concerning her academic background during her campaign for the regional director position. These actions allegedly violate Section 468 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, which pertains to forgery for the purpose of cheating, and Section 471, which deals with forging a document. Additionally, the ACC claims that Wazed misrepresented her qualifications by stating she held an honorary position at the then Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, a claim the university disputes. Furthermore, she is accused of misusing her power and influence to amass approximately US$ 2.8 million from various banks for the Shuchona Foundation, which she previously led.
