Saima Wazed Putul, the daughter of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has accused World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of leading a “witch hunt” against her.

She said political developments in Bangladesh spilled into the UN health agency and left her in what she described as a year of “professional exile.”

Putul, who resigned earlier this month as WHO regional director for South-East Asia, made the allegations in an opinion article published by Indian media outlet Firstpost. The article presents her account of the dispute that preceded her departure from the WHO.

Putul said she had long respected the WHO and its institutional safeguards but blamed Tedros personally for the way her case was handled after the fall of her mother’s government in Bangladesh in August 2024.

“My issue has been with its current Director General, Dr Tedros, and the way in which he has handled the political changes in Bangladesh,” she wrote in the article.

Putul alleged that Bangladesh’s then-interim government had launched a “political witch hunt” against her and said she initially believed Tedros, who had himself faced political turmoil involving his native Ethiopia, would understand her circumstances.

“I trusted him and believed that he would protect me as he had assured me he would,” she wrote. “But how wrong was I!” 

She said she agreed to go on leave in July 2025 for the welfare of the organisation, believing the matter would be handled neutrally and fairly.

“What I have experienced in the past year has been nothing short of a witch hunt led by him,” Put wrote, referring to Tedros. 

She claimed she participated in the WHO’s procedures, responded to allegations against her and submitted evidence challenging the cases brought against her in Bangladesh.

She also alleged that she encountered information concerning communications between the Bangladesh government and Tedros that, in her view, did not follow normal diplomatic practices. She said she sought an independent investigation but was met with “stonewalling.” 

The dispute intensified after she was placed on unpaid leave. Put said further allegations of fraud and abuse of authority were brought against her and that she was subjected to restrictions on speaking publicly about the matter. 

Her account follows her resignation as WHO regional director on September 9, a day after the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia recommended terminating her appointment.

The WHO said the matter had been handled through its established procedures and “with due regard for fairness and due process.” 

Put had taken office in February 2024 for a five-year term. She was placed on administrative leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission brought allegations against her, including fraud and forgery. 

According to correspondence seen by Reuters, the WHO subsequently accused Wazed of financial fraud involving travel to China and misrepresenting her academic credentials.

Her resignation letter also referred to an allegation concerning the acquisition of a plot of land in Bangladesh. Wazed has denied wrongdoing on all three issues. 

On the travel allegation, her lawyers said the disputed reimbursement involved $901 and resulted from an administrative oversight by an assistant.

On her credentials, Wazed said she held an honorary doctorate for her work on autism and had been transparent with Tedros about the qualification. She said the land had been acquired before she joined the WHO and that she was legally entitled to it. 

Her resignation letter was equally critical of Tedros.

“Since you continue to prevent me from effectively carrying out my duties, I have lost all trust and confidence in your leadership of WHO,” Putul wrote. She also said that nearly a year without remuneration had made her financial position “untenable.” 

Putul has separately accused Tedros of “harassment and intimidation” and alleged that keeping her on unpaid leave was retaliation for her demand for an independent investigation into his conduct. 

The WHO has rejected the suggestion that the process lacked fairness. After her resignation, it said her case had been dealt with under the organisation’s regulatory framework and through appropriate internal processes. 

Dr Nilesh Buddha remains officer-in-charge of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office pending the appointment of a new regional director. 

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