Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today (July 10, 2024) said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing official China visit has not been shortened, but she is returning home tonight to give time to her daughter Saima Wazed who is unwell. “There has been no change in her official engagements. She was supposed to stay in Beijing tonight. But she is returning to spend time with her daughter,” he told reporters. The Foreign Minister said that Saima Wazed, who is the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, was supposed to be part of the visit but she could not as she fell sick on July 8 morning. Saima Wazed is still unwell, said Hasan. Read more: Dhaka, Beijing sign 21 cooperation documents to strengthen ties on diverse fronts Bangladesh and China today signed 21 cooperation documents, mostly MoUs, eyeing stronger development and economic cooperation between the two Asian countries. The two countries also announced seven outcomes, including the conclusion of a joint feasibility study on Bangladesh-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Prime Minister Hasina will leave Beijing for Dhaka tonight, wrapping up her bilateral visit to China. A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage will depart Beijing Capital International Airport at 10 pm (local time) tonight and is scheduled to land at 1 am (Bangladesh time). The premier was earlier scheduled to leave Beijing for Dhaka on Thursday morning. During her stay in Beijing from July 8 to 10, the Bangladesh Prime Minister had a delegation level bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang today. Prime Minister Hasina held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping today. Read more: Dhaka, Beijing announce 7 outcomes, including completion of feasibility study on FTA

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday (November 01, 2023) thanked the countries, especially neighbouring India, noting that they actively supported Bangladesh’s campaign for Saima Wazed’s win in the WHO South East Asia Regional Director election. “I must thank all the countries, especially India. They helped in our campaign. They actively supported our candidature,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saima Wazed has been nominated, through an election, as the Regional Director (RD) of the South East Asia Regional Organization (SEARO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the term 2024-2028. Bangladesh candidate Saima Wazed wins WHO SEARO Director election The election took place during the 76th session of the Regional Committee for SEARO, the annual governing body meeting of WHO at the regional level, in New Delhi today (November 01, 2023). The election was held by secret ballot with the participation of the 10 member states of the SEARO which were eligible for voting. Saima Wazed bagged eight votes in the bid while the other candidate Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya, nominated by the Government of Nepal, secured two votes. “I expected 9 votes. Thank God. It was a big challenge. All of us worked very hard. We maintained a very decent campaign,” the foreign minister said. Momen, however, expressed displeasure over mudslinging by a certain group against the Bangladesh candidate. “I found her excellent in technical knowledge and she is also a good organiser,” said the foreign minister. Nomination for WHO Regional Director: Top health experts of the country laud Saima Wazed’s leadership abilities This election with overwhelming support reflects the recognition of Saima’s passion and relentless work in public health and demonstrates the confidence and trust of the region in her leadership skills, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said. “Thank you to WHO SEARO Member States for choosing me to be their next Regional Director,” Saima Wazed said in reaction. She paid tribute to the outgoing Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, for her decade of service to the public health of the region. “A special tribute as well for my fellow nominee in this race, Dr. Acharya. In his long and distinguished career, he has been an invaluable asset to WHO - and I hope our region will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I look forward to building a healthier South-East Asia,” she added. The nomination will be submitted for appointment by the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board, which takes place from January 22 to 27, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. The newly appointed regional director will take office on February 1, 2024 for a five-year term and be eligible for reappointment once. WHO regional director election: Momen conveys Bangladesh’s gratitude to Thailand for support to Saima Wazed Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducted an effective campaign in favour of the Bangladesh candidature since the very beginning of the election process. The SEARO is one of the six regions of WHO with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. It comprises 11 countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste. The SEARO is headed by the RD who is nominated by the members of the SEARO countries. Saima Wazed presents souvenir to PM Modi in presence of PM Hasina

In a gesture to boost up the motivation of children with special needs, Shuchona Foundation chairperson Saima Wazed posed for a picture, clad in a sharee hand-painted by them. The move was praised on social media and the photo went viral. "Our Chairperson is wearing a sharee today which is hand-painted by students of PFDA-Vocational Training Center," read the post by the foundation along with the picture. Read more: Shuchona Foundation receives Tk 10 lakh as donation "PFDA-VTC is a legally registered non-profit social welfare organization in Bangladesh that provides learning opportunities and promotes methods to empower young adults with autism and developmental disorders, giving them the scope to enhance their potential and take part in mainstream society," it added. Saima Wazed is a licensed school psychologist, an advisor to the Director-General of WHO on mental health and autism, and CVF's Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability. Currently, she is an instructor and Clinic Supervisor at Adrian Dominican School of Education (ADSOE), Barry University, USA. Read more: National Mental Health Strategy 2020-2030: Towards ensuring quality mental healthcare She is equipped with a long track record of taking initiatives towards a more inclusive society by spreading knowledge about autism.

Awareness has been raised regarding Autism by involving the highest policy making level of the state, said Saima Wazed Hossain, a member of the World Health Organization's 25-member Expert Advisory Panel on mental health. She made the observation during a 90-minute online discussion event, titled 'Pracheer Periye: Saima Wazed's Conversation with Stephen Shore on his Autobiography and Autism' on Sunday organized by Shuchona Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Research & Information (CRI). During the virtual meeting, 'Pracheer Periye' Bengali edition of acclaimed autism writer and US Professor Dr. Stephan Mark Shore’s book 'Beyond the Wall' was unveiled. He reflected on his experiences with autism during the event. The book was translated under the initiative of the Suchona Foundation. Also read: 'Pracheer Periye': Saima Wazed's conversation with Stephen Shore Saima Wazed, also the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, remarked that the biggest achievement Bangladesh had made in handling the autism issue is that the country's highest policy making level, especially the PM and other ministers getting involved in raising awareness about autism. “There is also much progress in transitioning out of the stigma that people, in general, had about autism in the past”, she said. “We have many limitations and those limitations have emerged as a kind of strength, which is also a big achievement in the autism awareness movement,” she added. Expressing her optimism about the change in people's attitude towards autism, she said, "In Bangladesh, one of the core things we have achieved is national awareness and awakening to the fact that those on the autism spectrum are supposed to be part and parcel of society. There is the belief system that there should be more acceptance, there should be more assistance and there should be more opportunities." Referring to the initiatives undertaken by the government, she said, "We have a strategic plan that's not just limited to one sector, not just the education sector or health sector, but across 20 different ministries and divisions. The government has adopted the multi-sectoral approach." Having accomplished her higher education in psychology and mental health in the US, Saima Wazed set off on raising awareness about children with autism in Bangladesh by establishing the voluntary organization Suchona Foundation. She is also the president of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh. Also read: Autism: Saima shares Bangladesh's good practices with global community Dr. Stephen Shore was diagnosed with “atypical development with strong autistic tendencies” and nonverbal at the age of four. He completed his doctorate in special education at Boston University. Stephen now works as a clinical assistant professor at the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University, teaching courses in special education and autism as part of his work on empowering people on the autism spectrum to develop their capacities to the fullest. Owing to his experience of cross-country tours, he shared his observation during the event, talking about striking similarities in the behaviors of children with autism across the world. He, however, also referred to the uniqueness of every such child, stressing the need for assistance to help them thrive through skills. Honorable Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, also spoke at the meeting, saying that a workshop on Neurodevelopment Disorder in 2015 at the national parliament. Saima Wazed presented the keynote at the workshop. She appreciated an array of initiatives undertaken by the Suchona Foundation under the leadership of Saima for people with special needs. She also showered her praise on Saima for pioneering the awareness-raising campaign on ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder in Bangladesh.

Saima Wazed, chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neuro Developmental Disorders, on Sunday said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed that peace can only be achieved through fairness, justice and equality. Saima, also World Health Organization’s (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Southeast Asia,  said Bangabandhu throughout his life worked towards peace to achieve social equality and harmony while social justice and fairness was at the core of all his works. READ: Saima Wazed calls for CVF-COP26 resilience action plan to address challenges She made the remarks at a panel discussion titled “Peace through Inter-faith Dialogue, Culture and Heritage” held at Foreign Service Academy as part of the two-day World Peace Conference. Saima is the member secretary of the organizing committee of the World Peace Conference.   Philip Ruddock, former Minister (Liberal) for Reconciliation, Multicultural Affairs and President of NSW Liberal Party; Ahmed Mohamed Rashid Aljarwan Alshamsi, President of Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP), Abu Dhabi, UAE; Karen Jungblut, Director of Collections, USC Shoah Foundation, Institute for Visual History and Education, University of Southern California, USA; Dr. Dimitrios Vassiliadis, Professor of Indian Languages, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Dr. Michał Panasiuk, Lecturer–Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Warsaw also spoke at the session moderated by David Fernandez Puyana, Permanent Observer of the United Nations University for Peace to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva. Saima, also daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said peace is all about social equality and many people forget how Bangabandhu started and what he stood for. “He started with something so small.” “He believed in dialogue and standing up for the rights and fighting for those who could not speak for themselves,” she said. READ: We need to be willing to take the bull by the horn: Saima Wazed President Abdul Hamid inaugurated the two-day "World Peace Conference-2021" on Saturday that brought together global thinkers, political personalities and peace promoters. The conference is looking back on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision and political struggle for peace. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the two-day conference on Sunday afternoon. The conference, being held in a hybrid format through both physical and virtual participation, is also shedding light on the legacy being carried forward by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her “untiring quest” of building a peaceful, just, rights-based, inclusive and prosperous nation.

Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) has chosen Saima Wazed Hossain as its one of the Thematic Ambassadors.

Advisor to the Director General of WHO on Autism and Mental Health Saima Wazed Hossain has said Bangladesh government's initiatives taken over the last two decades prioritising girls and women have come in tremendous use during COVID-19 crisis. 

Saima Wazed Hossain has said ensuring that women are protected during this global crisis needs a solution which is based significantly on an understanding of the culture where the woman belongs; and importantly that the biased social and economic structure ensures they are impacted even more adversely.