The United States has recognised the 'Women Student Protest Leaders of Bangladesh' with the 'Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award' as part of the 2025 International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards, according to the US Office of the Spokesperson.

The honour acknowledges the exceptional bravery of a group of female student activists who played a critical role in leading protests against violent repression in Bangladesh during the July-August 2024 demonstrations.

A media note from the US Office of the Spokesperson states, "When male counterparts were arrested, these women found innovative ways to continue communication and lead the protests, defying censorship efforts, even during the complete shutdown of the internet.  The bravery and selflessness of these women amid uncertainty was the very definition of courage."

The 'Women Student Protest Leaders of Bangladesh' are among this year's recipients, alongside individual awardees from Burkina Faso, Israel, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Romania, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Yemen.

The IWOC Awards ceremony is scheduled to be hosted by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump, and will take place on April 1, 2025 in the U.S. Department of State. 

Since its inception in 2007, the annual award has honoured over 200 women from more than 90 countries for demonstrating outstanding courage and leadership, often at great risk and sacrifice, as per the media note.

Following the ceremony, the IWOC awardees will take part in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in Los Angeles.

In 2024, the US honoured Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Fawzia Karim Firoze with the International Women of Courage Award.