The banned Awami League is reportedly lobbying to reinstate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, as Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). According to the report, the party has hired lobbying firms based in India and the United States to advocate for her return after she was placed on indefinite leave amid controversy and corruption allegations. WHO has sought the Bangladeshi government’s opinion on the matter, and the ministries of law, foreign affairs, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have confirmed responding with relevant documents.

Officials stated that Bangladesh’s reply to WHO included court verdicts and reports from national and international agencies detailing corruption charges against Putul. The ACC’s statement alleged misuse of state resources and irregularities in her appointment, while the law ministry described her reinstatement as potentially damaging to both Bangladesh and WHO’s reputation. Legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul emphasized that appointing a convicted individual would undermine WHO’s credibility.

An inter-ministerial meeting involving the health, law, and foreign ministries and the ACC finalized Bangladesh’s official response, reaffirming its stance against reinstating Putul in the WHO post.