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Hasina's daughter takes on the role of regional director for South-East Asia in February 2024
Published : 15 Jan 2025, 09:35 PM
The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has decided to investigate whether deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina misused her authority to secure a position for her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, as the regional director of the World Health Organization.
ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain told the journalist on Wednesday that the commission had received a complaint regarding the matter.
Putul, a clinical psychology graduate, earlier worked as a school psychologist in the United States.
Her mother Hasina appointed her as chairperson of Bangladesh's National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Putul was also made a member of the WHO's Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.
In November 2023, at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, or SEARO, in India’s New Delhi Putul was elected as the regional director.
She officially assumed the position in February 2024.
The WHO South-East Asia Office is based in New Delhi.
Since assuming the role, Putul has been residing there, while Awami League Hasina has also been in Delhi since losing power following the mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024.
ACC official Akhtar said, “There are allegations that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina misused her power to appoint her daughter Sayema Wazed Putul as the regional director despite her lack of qualifications.
”After verifying the preliminary information regarding the allegations, the commission has decided to investigate further.”
Since the fall of the Awami League government, over 100 cases have been filed against Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister Hasina.
Several cases have also been filed against her daughter, Putul, including one by the ACC regarding allegations of information concealment and power abuse related to the allocation of land in Purbachal.
