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A year after the uprising, women in Bangladesh face new challenges

October 18, 2025

Farzana Sithi, a prominent student activist from Jessore, became a leading figure in Bangladesh's 2024 youth-led uprising that ultimately forced top government officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to step down. Known as the "Tigress" and "Iron Lady" of the women's resistance movement, Sithi expresses profound disappointment with the post-revolution reality one year later, citing increased religious and gender-based discrimination, deteriorating public safety, and the commercialization of the revolution. In her interview with Abhimanyu Bandyopadhyay, she criticizes the interim government for failing to honor martyrs, systematically erasing women from the revolution's narrative, and neglecting women's safety while reducing recommended quotas for women candidates from 35% to just 10% in upcoming elections.

Who is affected

  • Women in Bangladesh (51% of the population)
  • Families of martyrs who died during the uprising
  • Female protesters and activists like Farzana Sithi
  • Victims of increased religious and gender-based discrimination
  • Citizens experiencing reduced public safety
  • Women facing mob assaults, slut-shaming, and sexual abuse
  • Women being sidelined in post-revolution political processes

What action is being taken

  • Sithi is speaking out through interviews about post-revolution realities
  • Sithi is continuing her advocacy for women's rights despite online harassment
  • The interim government is hosting concerts and commemorations for the uprising
  • New political parties are emerging and claiming to be heirs of the revolution
  • Women are continuing to fight against systematic oppression despite setbacks
  • Political negotiations around women's representation are occurring, resulting in a 10% quota for women candidates

Why it matters

  • The 2024 uprising represented hope for a discrimination-free Bangladesh with improved freedom of speech and citizen safety
  • Sithi claims zero progress has been made one year later, with conditions actually worsening
  • Women played a crucial role in the uprising but are now being systematically erased from the narrative
  • The revolution's martyrs remain unaccounted for, with families denied closure
  • Public safety has deteriorated, particularly for women
  • The commercialization of the revolution mirrors what happened after the 1971 Liberation War
  • The interim government's approach to women's issues indicates its priorities and values

What's next

  • Sithi suggests women will "return to the streets" if systematic attacks continue
  • She emphasizes the need to rebuild unity and organization among women before taking action
  • Sithi warns against diversionary tactics and manufactured disputes
  • She expresses belief that "pissed off women are definitely gonna bring change to this country"

Read full article from source: Global Voices