The government of Bangladesh does not want to work with the regional director of the World Health Organization and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 daughter Saima Wazed.
Dhaka has sent a letter expressing its interest to work directly with the WHO headquarters, chief adviser鈥檚 deputy press secretary Apurba Jahangir said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday.
He said that Saima Wazed was accused of various corruption and irregularities.
鈥楽he [Saima Wazed] is dysfunctional for Bangladesh,鈥� he said and added that the letter mentioned that Bangladesh could communicate directly with WHO, rather than through the regional director.
鈥楾he current regional director of WHO is Saima Wazed...She is accused in many criminal cases and there are allegations of financial corruption against her,鈥� Apurba said.
That is why WHO has been informed not to communicate through Saima Wazed, he said.
He said that the letter was written to WHO to take urgent action.
He said that the WHO regional director was a member of the family of a fallen autocrat and wanted to know how far she would be helpful to Bangladesh.
In response to a question in this regard, the chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam said that the issue was ethical.
鈥楽he is involved in some crimes including financial ones. Her bank account has been frozen here. BFIU [Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit] is investigating her. So, there should not be any question of doing any work through her,鈥� Alam said.
He said that the foreign ministry sent the letter to the WHO.
In November 2023, Saima Wazed was elected the Director of the WHO鈥檚 South-East Asia Region.
The election was held at the WHO Regional Conference held in New Delhi of India. She got this responsibility for five years.
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina left the country after being ousted in a student-mass uprising.
Several cases have been filed against her for the July-August massacres.
Besides, the chief adviser鈥檚 deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said that a report on the public administration ministry published by Daily Kalbela some days ago over alleged irregularities of deputy commissioners鈥� appointment was found false.
鈥楢 report on bribery was published in a matter related to the appointment of the Deputy Commissioners. Taking the report very seriously, the government formed a high-level inquiry committee. The report of that committee has come to the government. The inquiry report shows that the published news report is not true,鈥� he said.
He said that the Daily Kalbela was requested by the government to review their report and take necessary action in this regard.
