During a ceremony commemorating Rokeya Day on Thursday, Hasina asked for Saima's assistance, recognizing her contributions to global child autism. Saima, born in Dhaka in 1973 and the granddaughter of Bangabandhu, serves on the National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the World Health Organization's global Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health. Hasina highlighted the past discrimination faced by parents of autistic or disabled children, noting that mothers were often harassed and women were sometimes divorced by their husbands for giving birth to such children. Saima Wazed has made a significant impact by encouraging parents to openly discuss their autistic or disabled children, rather than hiding them. She is a licensed school psychologist in the United States and has been recognized for her work in autism and children's nervous complications since 2008. In 2014, she received the 'Excellence in Public Health' award from the WHO for her contributions in 11 Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, she was honored with the 'International Champion Award' in 2017 from the New York-based School and Center for Children with Autism. Saima, the daughter of nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, has also served as a thematic ambassador for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). In 1997, Saima completed her honours degree in psychology at Barry University in the US, followed by a master's in clinical psychology in 2002. Two years later, she obtained a specialist degree in school psychology. While at the university, she conducted a study on the development of Bangladeshi women, which was recognized as the best scientific presentation by the Florida Academy of Science. Saima's achievements also include being named one of the 100 Innovative Women Leaders in Global Mental Health by the Global Mental Health Programs Consortium in 2019. In 2011, she organized the first international conference on autism in Dhaka. Saima played a significant role in the creation of the Neurodevelopment Disability Trust Act 2013 in the country. She serves as the chairperson of the Shuchona Foundation, a organization focused on mental health issues. Additionally, she is a trustee and the vice-chairperson of the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), which is the research wing of the Awami League.