Mon Mar 31 01:23:25 UTC 2025: ## Bangladeshi Student Protest Leaders Honored with US Women of Courage Award
**New York, March 31, 2025** – A group of Bangladeshi women student leaders, instrumental in last year’s protests against the Sheikh Hasina government, will receive the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award as part of the US State Department’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards. The awards, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump on April 1st, recognize women demonstrating exceptional courage and leadership globally.
The State Department lauded the Bangladeshi students for their bravery in the face of violent repression during the July-August 2024 protests. They displayed remarkable resilience, continuing the protests even after the arrest of their male counterparts and amidst internet shutdowns.
This year’s IWOC Awards also honor Namini Wijedasa, a Sri Lankan journalist who bravely combats corruption through investigative reporting, and Amit Soussana from Israel, who advocates for survivors of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The IWOC Awards, now in their 19th year, have recognized over 200 women from more than 90 countries since 2007.
First Piper 