Opinion | When Due Process Fails: My Year Of Professional Exile At The WHO

Multilateral organisations like WHO are innately political in nature and therefore all senior leaders are vulnerable to political victimisation

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WHO is an organisation I have enormous respect for and have dedicated much of my life’s work to support it, albeit as an external expert. I believe in its vision and strong procedural safeguards for all staff. However, my issue has been with its current Director General, Dr Tedros, and the way in which he has handled the political changes in Bangladesh. The interim regime had launched a political witch hunt against me, something Tedros had experienced himself with Ethiopia. I expected understanding and compassion on how political disfavour can turn into judicial proceedings. In fact, in 2024, when political vendetta from the Yunus regime began, he did come across as sympathetic. I trusted him and believed that he would protect me as he had assured me he would. But how wrong was I!

For the welfare of the organisation, I had agreed to go on leave in July 2025. I had trusted his leadership decision at the time and expected neutrality and fairness. However, what I have experienced in the past year has been nothing short of a witch hunt led by him. I have participated in all procedural matters and responded to all allegations brought against me, providing credible evidence refuting the legal action taken against me by the Yunus regime and strongly refuting Bangladesh’s allegations and provided substantial evidence to that effect. During the investigation process, however, I encountered concerning information and communication between the Bangladesh government and Tedros that did not follow standard practices and diplomatic procedures. Expecting a fair response to my concerns, I requested an independent investigation and in turn received stonewalling. And even more devastating than that was being placed on leave without pay with further unfounded allegations of fraud and abuse of authority, coupled with a gag order and the........

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