Saima Wazed

Saima Wazed (Bengali: সায়মা ওয়াজেদ; born 9 December 1972),^[1] also known as Putul (Bengali: পুতুল), is the daughter of Bangladesh's former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.^[2] She is serving as the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization since November 1, 2023.^[3]

Saima Wazed
সায়মা ওয়াজেদ
Wazed in 2024
Born	(1972-12-09) 9 December 1972 (age 51) Dacca, Bangladesh
Other names	Putul
Alma mater	Barry University
Occupation	Regional director, WHO
Spouse	Khandker Mashroor Hossain
Children	4
Parents	Wazed Miah (father) Sheikh Hasina (mother)
Relatives	Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib (grandmother) Sajeeb Wazed (brother) Khandker Mosharraf Hossain (father-in-law) Khandaker Nurul Islam (grandfather-in-law)
Family	See Sheikh–Wazed family

Early life and education

Wazed was born to Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, and M. A. Wazed Miah, a nuclear scientist.^[4] Her brother is Sajeeb Wazed Joy.^[5][6] She graduated from Barry University.^[7] She is a licensed school psychologist.^[8]

Career

Saima Wazed, Michelle Obama, Sheikh Hasina and Barack Obama in New York, September 2009

Wazed organized the first South Asian conference on Autism in 2011 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.^[9] She is the chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders.^[10] She campaigned for “Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders” resolution at the World Health Assembly which adopted the resolution, Autism Speaks praised her for spearheading "a truly global push for support for this resolution".^[11] She had been drafted as a global autism advocate of World Health Organization's (WHO) 25-member Expert Advisory Panel on mental health for 4 years in 2014.^[12]

In November, 2016, Wazed had been elected as chairperson of International Jury Board meeting of UNESCO for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.^[13]

In April 2017, Wazed was designated as WHO Champion for Autism” in South-East Asia.^[14] In July, 2017 she became the WHO’s goodwill ambassador for autism in the South-East Asia Region.^[15][16][17]

Since 2022, Wazed has been a member of the Commission for Universal Health convened by Chatham House and co-chaired by Helen Clark and Jakaya Kikwete.^[18]

Awards

In 2016, Wazed was conferred World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region Award for Excellence in Public Health.^[19] In 2017, she was awarded the International Champion Award for her outstanding contribution to the field of autism. She received a distinguished alumni award from Barry University for her activism.^[7][20][21]

Personal life

Wazed was married to Khandakar Masrur Hossain Mitu, son of Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.^[22] The couple have four children.^[23][24]

References

1. "Sheikh Hasina's 70th birthday today". The Independent. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
2. "Despite Nepotism Charges, Bangladeshi PM's Daughter Wins WHO South East Office Election". The Wire. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
3. "Ms Saima Wazed takes charge as Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia". www.who.int. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
4. "Autism campaigner Putul listens to the troubles of people with disabilities, stresses on inclusive development". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
5. "India to give Bangladesh $1bn line of credit". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
6. Bangladesh Country Study Guide Strategic Information and Developments. Intl Business Pubns USA. 2012. p. 125. ISBN 978-1438773896.
7. "Saima Wazed Putul gets Distinguished Alumni award from Barry University". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
8. Islam Hasib, Nurul. "Disability campaigner Putul congratulates Bangladesh team, says they make nation proud". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
9. "Saima Wazed Hossain says autism campaign will not lose steam". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
10. "Saima Wazed: Comprehensive approach required for disability issues". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
11. "Resolution brings formal commitment to action on developmental disabilities by more than 50 countries". autismspeaks.org. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
12. Hossain Shaikh, Emran. "Putul made WHO adviser". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
13. "Saima Wazed elected chairperson of International Jury Board meeting of UNESCO". The Daily Star. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
14. "Saima Wazed new WHO champion for autism - Dhakatribune". Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
15. "Saima Wazed made WHO goodwill ambassador for autism". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
16. "WHO appoints Saima Wazed as Goodwill Ambassador". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
17. "Hossain made WHO goodwill ambassador for autism in South Asia". India Today. 10 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
18. Commission for Universal Health Archived 2022-06-24 at the Wayback Machine Chatham House.
19. "Saima Wazed wins WHO award". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
20. "Saima Wazed awarded for fighting autism - The Daily Star". 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
21. "Saima received International Champion award for work on autism in South-East-Asia - bdnews24.com". Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
22. "Son's & Daughters of Bangladeshi Political Leaders". parisvisionnews.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
23. "Saima Wazed Hossain bio" (PDF). UNESCO. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
24. "Hasina's daughter Putul gives birth to daughter". Bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2017-08-03.