India Supports Initiative to Return Saima Wazed to WHO

Efforts are intensifying to reinstate Saima Wazed Putul to her post as Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region, after she was placed on indefinite leave earlier this year. The initiative is reportedly being led by India, one of the region’s most influential member states.

Following objections raised by Bangladesh’s interim government, WHO placed Saima Wazed on leave on July 11 this year. Four months prior to that decision, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed two cases against her on charges of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power.

However, several WHO member states, including India, have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to place her on leave and have taken a stance in favor of her reinstatement. Notably, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office is headquartered in New Delhi.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is scheduled to visit Delhi next week (December 17–19) to attend the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. During the visit, he is also expected to inaugurate WHO’s new regional office building. According to sources, several member states are keen to see a final decision on Saima Wazed’s reinstatement taken during this visit.

The WHO South-East Asia Region consists of 10 member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. At least six of these countries, led by India, are actively supporting her immediate return to office.

Saima Wazed is the daughter of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power following political changes last year and subsequently took refuge in India. As Saima Wazed was already based in Delhi due to her WHO role, both mother and daughter are currently residing in the same country.

After Saima Wazed was placed on indefinite leave, Katharina Boehme was appointed as Acting Regional Director. The decision was communicated to WHO staff through an internal email from the Director-General. The email suggested that Bangladesh government objections regarding Saima Wazed’s position, questions over the legitimacy of her election, and the ACC cases were all factors behind the decision.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has sought to bypass Saima Wazed and communicate directly with WHO. At a press conference held on December 10 at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir said the government had sent a letter to WHO requesting direct communication without involving the regional director.

He stated that Saima Wazed is now “ineffective” for Bangladesh due to multiple criminal and financial allegations against her, and that WHO has been formally requested not to communicate with Bangladesh through her.

Saima Wazed assumed office as Regional Director on February 1, 2024, for a five-year term set to end in early 2029. Supporting countries, including India, want her to serve the full term.

Despite being on leave, Saima Wazed continues to receive her full salary, housing allowance, and all other benefits under WHO employment rules. This has raised concerns among some member states about the justification of bearing the full cost of a regional director who is not currently performing her duties.

After she was placed on leave in July, WHO temporarily removed the South-East Asia Regional Director page from its website, but it was later restored under pressure from member states. The page currently still displays Saima Wazed’s name and photograph.

In this context, India and other supporting countries want the Director-General’s December visit to Delhi to culminate in Saima Wazed’s reinstatement, allowing her to complete her full term.

When contacted, senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health said they had not received any formal communication from WHO regarding reinstatement. One official confirmed that the ACC had sent a letter seeking her removal, which was forwarded to WHO through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission in Geneva. However, no official response from the Foreign Ministry has yet been disclosed.