WHO sends Sheikh Hasina's daughter on indefinite leave: Report

DHAKA: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina 's daughter and WHO regional director for South East Asia Regional Office Saima Wazed Putul has been sent on indefinite leave from July 11, according to a media report.

The action has been taken four months after Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission filed cases against Saima for fraud, forgery and misuse of power, the report in Health Policy Watch said, reports Ahsan Tasnim.

"We view this as an important first step toward accountability," said chief adviser's press secretary Shafiqul Alam.

"We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Saima from her position, revokes all associated privileges and restores integrity to this prestigious role and the credibility of the UN system as a whole," he said.

The media report claimed that WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus notified staff in a brief internal email that Saima would be on leave from Friday (July 11) and that WHO assistant director-general Catharina Boehme would "serve as the Officer in Charge" in her place. Boehme would reach the SEARO office in New Delhi on Tuesday, 15 July.