A special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia on 17 November 2025 for crimes against humanity linked to a brutal clampdown on a student-led uprising in 2024.
The court ruled that she not only ordered the use of lethal force, including helicopters and drones, but also failed to prevent widespread killings, branding her as the “mastermind” behind the violence. The verdict by a three-judge bench has sent shockwaves in Bangladesh and raised deep questions about justice, accountability, and political power.
Who Is Saima Wazed?
Saima Wazed, widely known as Saima Wazed Putul, is a Bangladeshi psychologist, global mental health advocate, and a prominent figure in international public health. Born in 1972, she has dedicated her career to autism awareness, disability rights, and mental-health policy.
She assumed office as the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia in 2024, when she became the first Bangladeshi and only the second woman to head this powerful health body. Her vision in leadership is to strengthen the mental-health systems, widen healthcare accessibility, and advance equity across the region.
Saima Wazed Family
Saima Wazed belongs to one of the most influential political families in Bangladesh.
She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nuclear scientist M. A. Wazed Miah.
She is the sister of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, known nationwide in technology and politics. She belongs to the historic Sheikh family, in which lies the root of Bangladesh politics and public life, hence shaping both her influence and public perception.
Saima Wazed Mental Health Award
Among many, Saima has received a number of recognitions for her services in mental health, neurodevelopmental research, and autism advocacy over the years.
She was awarded, in 2025, a major international Mental Health Award for her role in advancing mental-health policy and raising awareness throughout South Asia.
Wazed has been awarded multiple times for her work on autism, early childhood development, and public-health innovation. Her awards reflect her pioneering role in giving mental health a national and international platform.
Who is the Daughter of Saima Wazed?
The daughter of Saima Wazed is Abeer Kashfi.
Saima Wazed is a mother and keeps most of her personal life private. She has a daughter among her other children, whom she often refers to for support and inspiration.
Wazed has previously spoken about the balance between motherhood and activism as one that has shaped many of her thoughts on child development and mental well-being.
Saima Wazed Children
Saima Wazed is married to Khandaker Masrur Hossain Mitu, and they have four children.
While much of her family life has remained out of the public eye, she refers frequently to her experiences as a mother as pivotal to her understanding of children’s mental health and supportive family environments.
Saima Wazed WHO Regional Director
Saima Wazed took over as the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia in February 2024. She achieved a milestone for her country of Bangladesh in the process and emerged at the forefront of health leadership in 11 countries.
She has championed mental health, maternal and child well-being, disability inclusion, pandemic recovery, health-system strengthening, and public-health preparedness in this position. A long-recognized leading voice on autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, her WHO leadership reflects her longstanding advocacy in these areas.
In 2025, she encountered administrative difficulties and investigation of governance issues related to her foundation and her state of citizenship at nomination. These culminated in action by the WHO to place her on leave, though the details have not been widely published. She remains an important international public health figure.
Saima Wazed & Sheikh Hasina
Saima Wazed is long associated with the political arena of Bangladesh, being the daughter of Sheikh Hasina.
Wazed’s rise to international health leadership has been marked by both praise and criticism with some lauding her dedication to public health and others scrutinizing her appointments due to her family’s political background. Recent political developments in Bangladesh have thrown her and Sheikh Hasina into sharper public focus.
With the latter facing immense political and legal pressures, Saima Wazed’s standing in global health and her proximity to the erstwhile prime minister have become part of larger national conversations. She continues, irrespective of political changes, to be recognized for her independent contributions to global health, autism advocacy, and mental health leadership.
