Saima Wazed has resigned as the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for South-East Asia, walking away from a post she wasn’t due to leave until 2029. The daughter of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina submitted her resignation letter on September 9, according to Reuters, which reviewed the document. Her departure closes out nearly a year of controversy that saw both the WHO and Bangladeshi authorities looking into allegations of financial wrongdoing, inflated academic credentials, and a disputed land purchase.
How it all unravelled
The trouble kicked off in 2025, when Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission accused her of fraud and forgery. That prompted the WHO to place her on unpaid leave while it ran its own internal investigation, one that reportedly zeroed in on suspicious travel expenses from a trip to China, doubts about whether she’d been truthful about her academic background, and a piece of land she’d acquired in Bangladesh.
Wazed hasn’t budged on any of it. She chalks the China expense issue up to a roughly $901 reimbursement error made by an assistant, nothing more sinister than an administrative slip. And on the land, she says she bought it before she ever took the WHO job, meaning it’s hers to keep under Bangladeshi law.
Why now
In her letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Wazed said she’d reached a point where she could no longer do the job properly. Going almost a year without a paycheck had worn her down financially, and she said she’d simply lost faith in the organisation’s leadership. The WHO hasn’t offered much comment, pointing to the confidentiality that typically surrounds these kinds of cases.
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Wazed made history when she took the role in February 2024, the first Bangladeshi to hold it, and only the second woman ever. It’s not a small job either: the South-East Asia region covers 11 countries and more than 2 billion people, making it one of the most influential public health positions in the world. While in office, she pushed hard on mental health, health equity, and getting more technology into public health systems, along with issues affecting women, children, and people with disabilities. Since she went on leave, Dr Catharina Boehme has been running the regional office in her place.
What happens now
Her exit leaves the region without a permanent leader at a tough time, with everything from disease outbreaks to mental health access still on the table. Reuters reports the WHO is preparing to kick off the search for her replacement, with nominations potentially opening in October and an election likely sometime early next year. There’s also a broader political story lurking behind this one. Hasina was driven from power following a deadly uprising in 2024, and several people tied to her government have since faced legal trouble or left the country altogether. Wazed’s resignation is just the latest chapter in that ongoing fallout. It’s worth stressing, though, that none of the allegations against her has been proven, and resigning isn’t the same as admitting guilt. The investigations are still open, and all eyes are now on how the WHO handles finding her successor.
FAQs
1. Who is Saima Wazed?
Saima Wazed is a Bangladeshi psychologist and the daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She became WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia in February 2024.
2. Why did Saima Wazed resign from the WHO?
She resigned amid investigations and allegations concerning financial irregularities, academic credentials and land ownership. Wazed denies the allegations and cited a loss of confidence in WHO leadership and financial difficulties during her unpaid leave.
3. When did Saima Wazed join the WHO as regional director?
She took office on February 1, 2024, for a five-year term.
4. What allegations were made against Saima Wazed?
The allegations include financial irregularities connected to travel to China, questions over academic credentials and the alleged illegal acquisition of land in Bangladesh. She has denied wrongdoing.
5. Who will replace Saima Wazed at the WHO?
The WHO is expected to begin the process of selecting a new Regional Director for South-East Asia. Reports indicate that nominations and an election process are expected in the coming months.
