New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s felicitations to Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammed Yunus on the country’s Independence Day two days ago, on March 26, comes in the backdrop of India now having two persons of political importance who are under investigation in Bangladesh – ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and now her daughter Saima Wazed Putul.
Hasina has been living in Delhi since August, 2024, after she was forced to flee following a victorious revolt by students, and she faces extradition and an arrest warrant in Bangladesh. Wazed has been in Delhi since November 2023, after she was appointed UN’s WHO regional director for South East Asia, but in March, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed two cases against Putul, accusing her of fraud and criminality. Investigation into Wazed’s appointment had begun in January this year.
According to its statement released to the media, the ACC alleged that – one, Wazed fabricated credentials in her application for the WHO post in 2023 and two, she misused her power and influence to force member banks of the Bangladesh Accreditation Board to donate Tk 33.05 crore to the Shuchona Foundation, of which she was chairperson.
According to investigations made by ACC, Wazed falsely claimed in her application to the WHO for her appointment as regional director that she was teaching and reviewing educational manuals at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), currently Bangladesh Medical University, when there was no evidence of such a claim. The ACC says that in her application, Wazed reportedly listed her position as “Honorary Specialist/Expert at BSMMU (2022-Present), providing technical expertise on autism spectrum disorder and mental health, and reviewing manuals for the care and management of development disorders.”
Wazed has been working on WHO’s ‘expert advisory panel’ on mental health since June 2013, and has been an advocate to provide health and educational support for autism in children in the South Asia region. She has published papers on interventions in autism and other neuro developmental disorders, however, she has been accused of limited public health expertise, and her appointment was under a cloud of accusations of nepotism and political influence, largely the intense campaigning by her mother, Hasina, who was prime minister at the time. For the record, 11 countries of the region did not put up any candidate, except Nepal, and Wazed won hands down. Wazed’s dual Canadian citizenship has also been under scrutiny.
Also read: Modi Message Stresses ‘Mutual Sensitivity’ in India-Bangladesh Ties But Silent on Yunus Meeting
The WHO says it is seized of the matter when the spokesperson replied to queries from The Wire, and said, “We are aware of allegations relating to the period before Ms Wazed took up her position as Regional Director for South east Asia, including in respect of activities during the election campaign for that position.”
The spokesperson pointed to rule 49 in the Rules of procedure of the WHO Regional Committee for South East Asia, where it clearly outlines the process of election and that it is a straightforward mechanism, in the light of concerns about candidate selection, and opacity of the election process.
The WHO spokesperson also pointed to the Code of Conduct for Nomination, which specifically says “the candidate must have a strong technical and public health background and extensive experience in global health among other criteria; and must include positions and work experience held during your professional career, with the corresponding dates, duties, achievements/ accomplishments and responsibilities.”
As for the Shuchona Foundation case, the ACC alleged that Wazed, along with an accomplice, forced over 20 banks to donate Tk 33.05 crore to the foundation – of which she was the chairperson – from their CSR funds. Apparently, investigations reveal the foundation has no documents on record to show how the money was spent.
According to reports, the BSMMU has stated that Wazed never held any position as honorary specialist or expert nor did she participate in any academic or research in manual development. The ACC has also charged her under various sections of the Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, for alleged falsehoods to get her position in the WHO, and the discrepancies in the Shuchona accounts. The ACC also said that investigations found no office of the foundation listed as address.
As accusations flew and cases of corruption were filed against Wazed, the WHO spokesperson added, “We understand that these allegations are the subject of investigation by the relevant authorities in Bangladesh. We do not comment on such investigations or any consequential legal processes while they are ongoing.”
