Farzana Sithi and the struggle for women’s rights after the 2024 uprisingCEFR A2
18 Oct 2025
Adapted from Abhimanyu Bandyopadhyay, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Bornil Amin, Unsplash
Farzana Sithi is a student activist from Jessore who became prominent during the youth-led July to August 2024 uprising. The protests forced top government officials to step down and made her a well-known voice for women’s rights. Supporters called her the "Tigress" and the "Iron Lady", but she also faced sustained online harassment.
Sithi says the uprising began as a stand against discrimination and authoritarian rule. After the regime fell, people hoped for more freedom and safety. A year later she says there is "zero progress" and some things are worse. Since August 5, 2024 she reports more religious and gender discrimination, public lynchings, easier access to illegal arms, and routine harassment of women.
She criticises the handling of those killed: many martyrs remain unaccounted for and DNA tests are unfinished. She says families have not received basic information and calls the lack of closure a shameful failure.
Difficult words
- activist — A person who works to make change.
- protests — Public demonstrations against something.
- harassment — Unwanted and annoying behavior towards someone.
- disappointment — Feeling sad about something that didn't meet expectations.
- representation — The act of speaking or acting for someone.
- safety — The state of being safe from harm.
- voice — The ability to express opinions or ideas.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think women's representation has decreased?
- How can activism help improve women's rights?
- What challenges do activists like Farzana face?
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