Staff Correspondent:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two cases against Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and WHO’s regional director for South-East Asia, on charges of fraud and misuse of power.
She is accused of providing false information to secure her WHO position and misusing influence to collect Tk33 crore from 20 banks in the name of the Shuchona Foundation, ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam told the media on Thursday (March 20 ).
According to the case statement, Putul allegedly abused her power and committed fraud and forgery to obtain the WHO regional director position for Southeast Asia in 2023.
The complaint states that she falsely claimed in her curriculum vitae (CV) to have participated in preparing or reviewing educational manuals at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), despite having no involvement in such activities.
Based on these allegations, a case has been filed against her under sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
The second case alleges that, as the former chairperson of the Shuchona Foundation, Saima Wazed colluded with former chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks and Exim Bank, Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder.
Together, they allegedly misused their power and exerted undue influence to collect Tk33.05 crore from various banks’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in favour of the Shuchona Foundation.
This case has been filed under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and section 109 of the Penal Code.