Naima Sultana

The First Female Martyr of the July Uprising 2024

October 30, 2025

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Martyr

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July Council

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Naima Sultana, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Uttara, Dhaka, became the first female martyr of the July Uprising of 2024. Her mother’s words keep her memory alive. Naima’s story of innocence, courage, and sacrifice symbolizes the human cost and hope that marked Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy.

Summary

In July 2024, during Bangladesh’s historic July Uprising, a 15-year-old schoolgirl named Naima Sultana became the first female martyr of the movement for justice and democracy.

On 19 July 2024, just days before her birthday, Naima was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of her home in Uttara, Dhaka.

Her mother, Ainun Nahar, recalls Naima’s excitement about her upcoming birthday, her diary entries, and her dreams for the future, stories now preserved in this emotional visual interview.

Through a mother’s grief and remembrance, this documentary reflects on the human cost of the July Uprising, and the courage of those who stood, even unknowingly, on the frontlines of change.

Documentary Credits

Interviewees:

Ainun Nahar, Mother of Naima Sultana

Produced By:

July Council — An Oral History Archive

Produced Year:

2025

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