Palestine Embassy Honors BD Girls Who Rejected US Award Over Gaza Genocide

On Thursday night, the Palestinian Embassy in Dhaka organized a dinner to honor Bangladeshi students Umama Fatema, Anika Tahsina, and Aysha Siddiqua Tithi, who had declined the US State Department’s “International Women of Courage Award 2025” in protest against the United States’ support for Israel's ongoing assaults on Gaza. During the event, Palestinian Ambassador Yousef Ramadan commended their principled stance, describing it as a courageous act of moral resistance that sends a strong message of solidarity not only to the Palestinian people but to the global community. He emphasized how their decision embodies empathy and inspires others to take a stand for justice. Speaking at the program, Umama Fatema stated that her refusal of the award was a humble gesture in comparison to the immense suffering faced by the people of Gaza and those living in other conflict-ridden regions. She added that it is the duty of Bangladeshis to uphold their legacy of compassion and resistance against injustice. As a mark of gratitude and recognition, a token of appreciation was also presented to her during the ceremony.