Saima Wazed Putul ‘placed on indefinite leave’ from WHO role amid corruption allegations
Putul allegedly provided false information regarding her academic qualifications during the nomination process
Saima Wazed Putul, regional director of the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), has been placed on indefinite leave as of 11 July.
This follows months after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed cases accusing her of fraud, forgery, and abuse of power.
According to the Health Policy Watch, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed staff via email that Putul had been sent on leave, effective immediately.
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WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Catharina Boehme will assume the role of officer in charge of SEARO and is expected to arrive at the regional office in New Delhi on Tuesday (15 July).
The WHO has yet to issue a public statement regarding the allegations or Putul's future with the organisation.
The charges against Putul, daughter of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, are linked to her controversial election as regional director.
She took office in January 2024, though her candidacy was widely criticised amid claims that her mother, then in office, used undue influence to secure her appointment.
The Lancet's criticism of Saima's appointment
On 23 September 2023, The Lancet published a report titled "Criticism over WHO Regional Director nominee". Local media ignored the piece, as Sheikh Hasina was still in power at the time.
The summary reads: "Bangladesh's nomination of Saima Wazed as Regional Director of South-East Asia has raised questions over transparency and nepotism. Talha Burki reports."
The article raises concerns that Putul may have violated WHO's ethical standards.
According to WHO's Rules of Procedure (Rule 49), candidates for regional director must have a strong technical and public health background, substantial global health experience, and a proven record of public health leadership.
While Saima holds an MSc in clinical psychology, The Lancet noted she lacks other formal academic qualifications in medicine or public health.
She received an honorary doctorate from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in 2023.
Her experience in global health has been limited to autism and mental health initiatives, including advisory roles with WHO and Chatham House, which is an independent policy institute based in London.
Notably, only two candidates stood for the SEARO election, unlike other WHO regional races that typically see multiple contenders.
According to Professor Mukesh Kapila, a global health and humanitarian affairs expert at the University of Manchester and former WHO director in Geneva, "Bangladesh has been actively bullying nations to stop putting candidates forward so that their own candidate can have unopposed progress," as he told Himal Southasian, a South Asian news magazine.
Putul's main rival, Nepalese candidate Shambhu Prasad Acharya, has over 30 years of experience at WHO and holds a doctorate in public health.
Bangladesh had reportedly pressured Nepal to withdraw his nomination.
The Lancet's editorial expressed concern over the credibility of WHO's election process in the region, pointing out that one candidate was "the daughter of the nominating country's prime minister."
It added, "These concerns threaten to delegitimise both the election process and the future credibility of elected WHO regional directors."
The global public health and medical communities viewed her nomination with alarm.
Her appointment also raised potential conflict of interest concerns, as she would be expected to provide impartial policy advice to a government led by her mother.
FT coverage
The Financial Times also highlighted criticism of her nomination.
Citing a senior health policy expert in Bangladesh, the newspaper reported that Saima Wazed's appointment reflected growing politicisation within the country's health sector.
"She came from a political family, and her mother is prime minister. Every single work that she does is highlighted [by the government]," the expert told the Financial Times.
ACC investigation
The ACC formally launched an investigation into Putul in January and filed two cases in March.
According to ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam, Putul allegedly submitted false information about her academic credentials during the nomination process, violating Sections 468 and 471 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (relating to forgery and use of forged documents).
She is also accused of misrepresenting professional affiliations, including falsely claiming an honorary position at BSMMU, a claim the university has denied.
These misrepresentations allegedly aimed to bolster her candidacy for the WHO role.
In addition, the ACC alleges that Putul abused her influence to collect approximately $2.8 million from various banks in the name of the Shuchona Foundation, which she previously led. The use of these funds remains unclear.
These charges fall under Section 420 of the penal code (cheating) and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947 (abuse of power).
Since the filing of the charges, Putul has reportedly been unable to travel within the SEARO region, due to the risk of arrest should she return to Bangladesh.
