Saima Wazed Hossain, daughter of Prime Minister and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, is likely to have a position in the new central committee during the ongoing national council of the party.
Saima is currently holding the position of the chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, as well as a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.
However, she does not hold any membership of the party.
In a recent interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), Sheikh Hasina hinted that she does not want to continue for more, as it was her fourth time as the prime minister.
"I think that everybody should take a break in order to accommodate the younger generation," she said during the interview.
Meanwhile, in the last 10 years, whenever Sheikh Hasina went somewhere, she took Saima Wazed along with her and introduced her to foreign delegates.
In September, Saima Wazed Hossain was listed as one of the "Innovative Women Leaders in Global Mental Health" by Columbia University's Global Mental Health Program’s publication blog “Five on Friday.”
She ranked 40th among the 100 women leaders listed in the blog, who are individually and collectively improving the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental illness.
She was also chosen as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in the South East Asia Region for her innovative work as a spokesperson for individuals with autism in Bangladesh.
Saima is also the chairperson of the Shuchona Foundation, a not-for-profit advocacy, research and capacity-building organization based in Dhaka. She is also one of the trustees of Centre for Research and Information (CRI).
A graduate from Barry University in Florida, she is an expert on neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health and an accomplished speaker. Her efforts have led to international awareness, policy and program changes, and the adoption of three international resolutions at the UN and WHO.
She is credited with bringing mental health issues to the mainstream, and breaking social barriers to acceptance of persons with disabilities.
Will Joy and Radwan come to leadership?
Meanwhile, name of two other members of the family of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Radwan Mujib Siddiq - have long been in the discussion among party men over their inclusion to the party central committee.
Joy is the son of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, while Radwan is the son of Sheikh Rehana, another daughter of Bangabandhu.
The government in 2014 appointed Joy as the prime minister's ICT Affairs Adviser, and he was reappointed to the same post in 2019. On November 26, he was made the number one member of Rangpur Awami League.
Joy is currently in the United States of America.
During the 20th council held in 2016, councilors of the ruling party continued to raise support for Sajeeb Wazed Joy as they wanted to see him in Awami League's future politics.
On the other hand, Radwan is a Trustee of the Awami League's research cell CRI.
Responding to a question over the issue that the third generation of the Bangabandhu family is formally entering politics through this council, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that the third generation should join the Central Working Committee as well as take responsibility for the party.
"Sheikh Hasina is more than 73 years old. She can run the party and the government for another 10-15 years. But after that, her physical condition may not permit her to do so. By joining now, the new generation can learn directly from her. It is high time for them to formally take the responsibilities of the party," he added.
