Saima Wazed Putul, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, has been placed on indefinite leave, four months after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh filed two cases against her on charges of fraud, forgery and misuse of power, according to the Health Policy Watch.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision in a brief internal email, stating that Wazed would be on leave starting Friday (July 11).

He also said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Catharina Boehme would assume responsibility as Officer-in-Charge of the SEARO office in Wazed’s absence. Boehme is expected to arrive at the SEARO headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 15).

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Saima Wazed, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who fled the country last August after protests, took office as Regional Director in January 2024.

The charges against Saima Wazed stem from her bid to be appointed regional director.

Her campaign was shadowed by claim that her influential mother used her influence to ensure her daughter’s election.

According to the formal charges, she is alleged to have provided false information about her academic record during her campaign for regional director, violating Section 468 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 471 (forging a document).  

The ACC also alleged she misrepresented her qualifications by claiming an honorary role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, which the university disputes, to secure her WHO position.

Saima Wazed is also accused of having misused her power and influence to collect about $2.8 million from various banks for the Shuchona Foundation which she used to head.

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The ACC case did not provide complete details on how the money was then used. Those charges include: allegations of fraud and misuse of power under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property); , as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947.

Since the charges were laid, Wazed has been unable to travel properly in the SEARO region as she faces arrest in Bangladesh, it said.