Saima Wazed Putul, the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia Regional Director and daughter of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned from her position following ongoing fraud investigations by both the WHO and Bangladeshi authorities.
Putul submitted her resignation on Wednesday, bringing further attention to the widening fallout surrounding individuals linked to the former Bangladeshi administration. Her departure comes after months of scrutiny and legal challenges that have affected several associates and family members connected to Hasina following her removal from power in 2024.
Putul, who began a five-year term as WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director in early 2024, was placed on unpaid administrative leave by the United Nations health agency late last year. She was initially sent on leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission filed charges alleging fraud and forgery.
According to reports, the WHO also investigated allegations that Putul committed financial fraud related to travel to China and misrepresented her academic qualifications. Additional concerns reportedly included the acquisition of a plot of land in Bangladesh. Putul has denied all allegations against her.
In her resignation letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Putul defended her actions and said she had lawfully acquired the land before joining the organization. She argued that she was entitled to the property under Bangladeshi legislation covering families of the country’s independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, her grandfather.
Putul stated that she had been elected to serve the countries of the Southeast Asia region and expressed disappointment over her inability to continue performing her duties. She also cited the financial impact of spending nearly a year on unpaid leave as a key factor behind her decision to step down.
Her resignation marks another significant development in a series of investigations that have drawn attention to prominent figures connected to Bangladesh’s former ruling establishment. The case is expected to remain under close watch as inquiries continue.
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