During a ceremony celebrating Rokeya Day on Thursday, Hasina asked for support for Saima, who is recognized for her efforts in global child autism. Saima, born in 1973 in Dhaka, is the granddaughter of Bangabandhu and serves on the National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. She is also a member of the World Health Organization's global Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health. Hasina mentioned a time when parents would hide their autistic or disabled children from the public and mothers of such children faced harassment. Some husbands even left their wives for giving birth to such children. Saima Wazed has made a significant impact by empowering parents to openly discuss their autistic or disabled children, rather than keeping them hidden. As a licensed school psychologist in the US, she began working with autism and children's neurological disorders in 2008 and quickly gained recognition for her efforts. In 2014, she was honored with the 'Excellence in Public Health' award from the WHO for her contributions in 11 Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, she was awarded the 'International Champion Award' in 2017 by a New York-based school and center for children with autism. Saima, the daughter of nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, also served as a thematic ambassador for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). In 1997, Saima completed her honours degree in psychology and in 2002 she obtained her master's in clinical psychology from Barry University in the US. Two years later, she earned 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 accomplishments also include being listed as one of the 100 Innovative Women Leaders in Global Mental Health by the Global Mental Health Programs Consortium in 2019, and organizing the first international conference on autism in Dhaka in 2011. Saima was instrumental in developing the Neurodevelopment Disability Trust Act 2013 in her country. She holds the position of chairperson at Shuchona Foundation, an organization that focuses on mental health concerns. Additionally, she serves as a trustee and vice-chairperson at the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the research arm of the Awami League.