Last Updated:
Saima Wazed’s legal team made the allegation in a letter to WHO Chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus while seeking clarity on her indefinite leave. WHO has reportedly refused to comment
Saima Wazed, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Saima Wazed, daughter of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has lashed out at her employer, the World Health Organization (WHO), through her legal representative, alleging the world health body was working to help Bangladesh’s interim government of Mohammad Yunus of targeting her.
Wazed’s legal representatives made the stunning allegation in a letter to WHO Chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus while seeking clarity why she was placed on indefinite leavesay sources in her legal team. WHO has reportedly refused to comment on ‘specific cases’, citing confidentiality.
“Instead of protecting our client and duly informing her of its communications with Bangladeshi authorities, WHO, in reaction to accusations based on unverified documents, placed her on leave and even went as far as to inquire whether Bangladesh would like WHO to lift her immunity. These improper direct dealings with Bangladesh demonstrate a violation of the Regional office autonomy, of WHO’s duty of care, and show that, rather than protecting our client, WHO furthered the Interim Government of Bangladesh’s objective of targeting our client both as daughter of Sheikh Hasina and as Regional Director of WHO,” said her legal representatives.
The copy of the letter, which was written in July this year, is seen by News18.
The allegation stems from Sheikh Hasina’s daughter and WHO Regional Director for South Asia being placed on indefinite leave by WHO by July 11 last year. This was the result of Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filing cases of corruption against her that she claims were “flawed”.
Claiming she has been at the receiving end of Yunus’ regime’s political vendetta, her lawyers, in a no-holds-barred attack, reminded Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus about similar allegations which he faced in the past.
“Moreover, you yourself were the subject of politically motivated proceedings, yet you were never placed on any form of leave,” the letter read.
Wazed’s legal counsel referred to the serious allegations against the WHO chief from Ethiopia. During Ethiopia’s Tigray war, beginning in 2020, Ethiopian military officials accused Tedros, himself an ethnic Tigrayan and a former senior figure in the TPLF-led government, of politically supporting the TPLF against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal government.
Ethiopia’s Army Chief, Gen. Birhanu Jula, publicly called Tedros a “criminal” and alleged that he had worked to obtain weapons and diplomatic support for Tigray forces, which he denied.
The letter, written by Kingsley Napley, argues that WHO has provided no information about “the progress or status of investigations into her complaints beyond an acknowledgement”.
He has even alleged WHO to “fail to act” and called the WHO Chief’s behaviour “unethical”.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Saima Wazed’s legal team is seeking clarity from the WHO regarding her indefinite leave, alleging the organisation helped the interim government of Bangladesh target her. The WHO has reportedly refused to comment.
Ask News18About the Author
Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep …Read More
August 21, 2026, 7:12 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
