Saima Wazed
Bangladeshi psychologist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
 | This article needs to be updated. (December 2024) |
Saima Wazed | |
|---|---|
সায়মা ওয়াজেদ | |
.png) Wazed in 2024 | |
| Born | 9 December 1972 Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Other names | Putul |
| Alma mater | Barry University |
| Occupation | Regional Director,South East Asia, WHO |
| Spouse | Khandker Mashroor Hossain |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib (Grandmother) Sajeeb Wazed (brother) Khandker Mosharraf Hossain (father-in-law) Khandaker Nurul Islam (grandfather-in-law) |
| Family | See Tungipara Sheikh 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
Summarize
Perspective
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]
On 24 September 2024, she attended the 79th. United Nations General Assembly, New York, and made a speech about improving the global inefficiencies as Emergency, Conflict and Climate Crisis Situations and their physical and psychological impacts on adults and children.[19]
Controversies
In 2025, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh) has filed two cases against Wazed alleging she falsified her academic credentials to secure her position and misused her influence to obtain approximately $2.8 million from banks for the Shuchona Foundation, which she previously led. These allegations follow earlier claims that her mother, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, improperly influenced Wazed's 2023 election to the WHO role.[20]
Awards
In 2016, Wazed was conferred World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region Award for Excellence in Public Health.[21] 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][22][23]
Personal life
Wazed was married to Khandakar Masrur Hossain Mitu, son of Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.[24] The couple have four children.[25][26]
References
External links
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