Umama Fatema, a key organiser of the anti-dictatorship Hasina movement and spokesperson for the anti-discrimination student movement, has personally rejected a prestigious award announced by the US State Department.

According to the department, the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award will be presented to this courageous group of women who played a leading role in the July-August 2024 protests against violent repression in Bangladesh.

“These women displayed extraordinary bravery, often positioning themselves between security forces and male protesters despite facing threats and violence. When their male counterparts were detained, they found innovative ways to sustain communication and lead the movement, overcoming censorship and even an internet blackout. Their resilience and selflessness in the face of adversity truly embody courage,” the statement read.

In a statement posted on her Facebook account on Saturday (March 29), Umama expressed her decision to decline the recognition, citing concerns over its association with US policy on Palestine.

"The collective recognition of women activists is an honour for us. However, this award has been used to justify Israel’s brutal assault on Palestine in October 2023," she wrote.

She criticised what she described as an attempt to legitimise Israel’s actions while denying the Palestinian struggle for independence. "The way this award is positioned to excuse Israel’s attack raises serious questions about its impartiality, especially when Palestinians are being denied their fundamental human rights, including their right to land," she added.

Declaring her solidarity with the Palestinian cause, she stated: "Out of respect for Palestine’s struggle for independence, I personally reject this award."

Umama Fatema concluded her message with a pro-Palestinian slogan, writing: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

BDST: 1010 HRS, MAR 30, 2025
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