During a ceremony to commemorate Rokeya Day on Thursday, Hasina asked for support for Saima, who is recognized for her efforts in 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 is a member of 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 faced divorce for giving birth to such children. Saima Wazed has made a significant impact by encouraging parents to openly talk about their autistic or disabled children, rather than feeling the need to hide them. This change was brought about by Saima, a licensed school psychologist in the United States, who began working in the field of autism and children's nervous complications in 2008. Her work was quickly recognized, and she received the 'Excellence in Public Health' award from the WHO in 2014 for her contributions in 11 Southeast Asian countries. In 2017, she was also honored with the 'International Champion Award' from the New York-based School and Center for Children with Autism. Additionally, as the daughter of nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, Saima has 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 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 heavily involved in the creation of the Neurodevelopment Disability Trust Act 2013 in her country. Additionally, she holds the position of chairperson at Shuchona Foundation, an organization that focuses on mental health issues. Saima also serves as a trustee and vice-chairperson at the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), a research wing of the Awami League.