WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director Waheed Resigns Amid Fraud Allegations

Saima Waheed has resigned from her position as World Health Organization Regional Director for Southeast Asia after member states recommended terminating her appointment, cutting short a term originally set to run for five years. According to The Hindu, Waheed's resignation took effect immediately, and the WHO is expected to launch the successor nomination process in October. The Southeast Asia Region covers ten member states, including India and Bangladesh.

In her resignation letter, Waheed stated that she had completely lost trust and confidence in the WHO leadership. She had been placed on unpaid administrative leave last year.

In 2025, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission brought fraud and forgery charges against Waheed, alleging that she had listed an honorary doctorate as an academic qualification when applying for the regional director position. Waheed herself has denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated. The related judicial proceedings and findings have not been made public.

The WHO is also conducting a separate review of travel expense claims related to one of Waheed's trips to China. Waheed's lawyer has described this as an administrative error, and the conclusions of that review likewise have not been disclosed.

Waheed officially took office on 1 February 2024, becoming the first WHO Southeast Asia regional head from Bangladesh and the second woman to hold the position in the region. She holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in clinical psychology, as well as a specialist degree in school psychology, from Barry University in Florida, United States. She previously served as an adviser to WHO Director-General Tedros on mental health and autism issues and was a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health. She also chaired Bangladesh's National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the Shuchona Foundation, and served on the Chatham House Commission on Universal Health.

Waheed is the daughter of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina left Bangladesh for India on 5 August 2024 following massive nationwide protests and currently faces multiple criminal cases in Bangladesh, including charges related to the crackdown on protesters. Hasina has denied the allegations. The legal action against Waheed comes against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in her family's relations with the current Bangladeshi government.