Her departure comes amid allegations of financial fraud and misrepresentation of her academic credentials
The WHO later accused Wazed of “committing financial fraud in relation to her travel to China” and of misrepresenting her academic credentials, according to a July 3, 2026, letter from her lawyers to the WHO seen by Reuters. Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia regional director and daughter of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned from her post following fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Hasina was forced to resign and flee Bangladesh in August 2024 following a deadly student-led uprising that grew into a mass movement against her government. Earlier reporting noted: Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed resigns as WHO regional head amid fraud allegations Saima Wazed, daughter of ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned as the World Health Organization’s regional director for Southeast Asia following investigations into alleged fraud and other irregularities, Reuters reported.
“We view this as an important first step toward accountability,” then-chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam had said in 2025. “We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Saima from her position, revokes all associated privileges and restores integrity to this prestigious role and the credibility of the UN system as a whole,” he had said. New Delhi has said the request is being “examined as part of our established processes”.
The development comes as Bangladesh continues to seek the extradition of Hasina and other Awami League leaders from India.
Wazed’s removal from her WHO role had previously been welcomed by Bangladesh’s interim government as a step towards accountability. Earlier reporting noted: The resignation comes as the political fallout from Hasina’s ouster continues to affect members of her family and close associates. Earlier reporting noted: Wazed resigned on Wednesday, according to a resignation letter seen by Reuters, ending her tenure at the WHO amid investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities.