Alleged False Information in CV to Win WHO Post: ACC Approves Chargesheet Against Saima Wazed

The Anti-Corruption Commission has approved the filing of a chargesheet in court against Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on allegations of providing false information in her résumé in obtaining appointment as regional director for South-East Asia of the World Health Organization. ACC Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Khan announced the decision at a briefing on Sunday.

According to sources connected with the ACC's investigation, in the résumé submitted for the regional director post, Saima Wazed had mentioned experience of working as an 'honorary specialist expert' at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital. The institution is now known as Bangladesh Medical University. In the investigation, that claim of experience has been described as false and fabricated, the ACC said.

The commission alleges that the information about that experience in the résumé was used to create the opportunity to obtain appointment to the important post at the international organization. The investigation report says these activities were carried out during her tenure as chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and of the Shuchona Foundation.

The investigation has further alleged that influence was exerted in preparing and vetting the necessary documents on the basis of the résumé's information during the appointment process. The report mentions that although a file was opened through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pressure was applied without giving an opportunity to verify the information.

The ACC claims that the relevant information was later sent through Bangladesh's Permanent Mission, the United Nations office and other international organizations to the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The commission believes Saima Wazed obtained appointment to the post on the basis of that information.

The investigation report says that through the false information in the résumé and the abuse of power, the reputation of the state was damaged. It is on the basis of these allegations that the commission has approved the filing of a chargesheet in court.

The case in this incident was filed on 20 March 2025. After the case was filed at the ACC's Dhaka Integrated District Office-1, an investigation was conducted. At Sunday's briefing it was stated that after the investigation ended, approval has now been given to file the chargesheet.

The post of WHO regional director is extremely important for health activities in the South-East Asia region. Questions arising over résumé information in the appointment process for such a post have given rise to wide discussion inside and outside the country.

According to the ACC secretary's briefing, after the approval, the process of formally submitting the chargesheet in court will now move forward. If the court accepts the chargesheet, the case will move to the trial stage, and whether the allegations are proven will depend on the court's decision.

As of the writing of this report, no statement from Saima Wazed regarding the allegations had been obtained. More details about the next steps of the case will be known after the ACC's chargesheet is filed in court and accepted.