Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, has won the post of Southeast Asia regional director of the World Health Organization, which comprises 11 countries.
The voting took place on the third day of the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee on South-East Asia held in New Delhi on Wednesday (November 1). Member States voted to nominate Saima Wazed.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste—these ten countries voted. However, Myanmar did not participate in the vote.
The nomination will be submitted at the 154th session of the WHO, to be held from January 22–27, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the World Health Organization website. The newly appointed regional director, Saima Wazed, will take charge on February 1.
Saima Wazed Puthul has gained worldwide fame for her role as a mental health specialist, particularly an autism specialist. He is an advisor to the Director-General on Mental Health at the World Health Organization.
