Backed by India, Bangladesh PM’s Daughter Wins Poll for WHO Post

New Delhi: Saima Wazed, the mental health expert daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina got elected as the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia which comprises 11 countries. She is also an advisor to the WHO’s director-general for mental health.

Her opponent during the election for the post was Shambhu Prasad Acharya from Nepal. As per reports, India supported Saima, who could get eight votes, while Acharya received two.

The voting took place during a closed meeting at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia region.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste took part in the voting in New Delhi on Wednesday on the third day of the session.

Myanmar did not attend the meeting.

Saima will be the first Bangladeshi to hold the post created in 1948. Her nomination will be submitted to the WHO Executive Board during its 154th session, taking place on January 22-27, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. The newly appointed Regional Director will assume office on February 1, 2024.