August 5, 2024. After ruling the country for 15 years as a one-sided party, the fascist Awami League government collapsed in the face of an intense anti-discrimination movement turned mass uprising led by students. Some of the most heard lines since then include “Eti Bangladesher Dwitio Swadhinota” (This is Bangladesh's second independence).
In 1971, we achieved our cherished freedom through nine months of bloody war against Pakistan. After breaking the shackles of suppression, everyone breathed in a free Bangladesh.
Most of the young generation who participated in that great Liberation War saw the sun rise again in an independent Bangladesh for the second time, thanks to the revolution led by the young generation of this time.
The period following the glorious Liberation War raises a poignant question: How did the freedom fighters cope with the immense trauma of witnessing firsthand the sacrifice of three million martyrs and the suffering of 2,00,000 mothers and sisters?
Having been at the epicentre of such profound sorrow, what was the psychological state of these brave individuals in their newly independent nation?
Brave Freedom Fighter Abdul Hamid, 74, fought in the Fatikchhari area of Chittagong under Sector No 1. When asked how his mental condition was after the independence, he said that even though the country was free from Pakistani oppression, his mental condition was not good at all.
During the war, many of the comrades who trained with Hamid died in front of his eyes and many were never found. He has been living with these sad memories all these years and they still haunt him. “These memories are unforgettable,” he said, adding many of his comrades faced the same issue.
After independence, the country’s economic condition was very bad, and as a result, financial problems followed — which did not help his situation either. Hamid was forced to leave his family and go to Middle East for a better livelihood.
At the time, living away from his family, on top of the fresh trauma from the war, only deepened his psychological wounds but he did not know how to get any help to treat them.
Battle of the new generation
The students’ movement started at the beginning of July 2024 and turned into a nationwide mass uprising against the Awami League regime after the government came down hard on the students demanding immediate reformation of the quota system in government jobs.
The young and fearless students from all educational institutions across the nation found themselves at the heart of this struggle for justice and equality. To quell their unwavering voices, the law enforcement agencies and Awami League supporters began attacking the unarmed students demonstrating on the streets. Many students were killed and wounded as a result.
Many students had managed to carry their injured friends to hospitals, while many had to leave the dead bodies of their friends on the streets to save their lives from the bullets fired by police and Awami League men.
Meanwhile, more than 450 people were killed and thousands of others injured -- many by police fire -- in the weeks of protests leading up to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 ending her 15-year autocratic rule.
Faria Ulfat Saeed, who lost her elder brother Tahir Zaman Priyo, wrote in X, "My brother was by my side before he was shot. Just 1/2 minute before he was shot, he told me ‘We will stay together’. I do not mourn his death; there is only trauma. When I go to sleep, I look upside down. I don't know whether to feel sad about his death or relieved that I survived by being a few inches away. The bullet hit my dear brother in the head."
Narrating the days of the movement, Nowrin Sultana Toma, a third-year student of Dhaka University, said, "We took shelter in a small room in Azimpur and saw many injured people in front of us. Someone was shot in the hand, someone in the leg. We didn't even have anything to give first aid. Many were apologising to everyone for fear of death.
“I still can't sleep when I think about these days. A whole generation has been traumatised.”
She drew the attention of the government authorities. She said that almost everyone in the Generation Z (Gen-Z) needs psychological counselling now, as nearly every one of them saw the unspeakable brutality during the movement.
Apart from students of both public and private universities, students of schools, colleges, madrasahs and other educational institutions — most of them teenagers — had also joined the movement. For them, these memories are unimaginable.
Due to the availability of social media nowadays, the brutality of this movement is also visible to many minors, which will, if not already have, adversely affect their mental health.
A mental health crisis
The anti-discrimination movement led by students has had a profound impact on the mental health of an entire generation. Students, who were at the forefront of the protests, have been exposed to brutal violence and loss on a scale unimaginable for many.
The widespread availability of social media has amplified the trauma, exposing even younger children to disturbing and violent images and narratives.
The National Institute of Mental Health has launched a 24-hour crisis hotline recognising the urgent need for mental health support. As the nation works to heal, providing the necessary care and support to those affected by these traumatic events is crucial.
Many private hospitals such as Popular Medical College Hospital have made the expenses free for the injured people. By implementing these measures, Popular Medical College Hospital and other participating hospitals can effectively manage the influx of injured patients, provide timely and appropriate care, and ensure a positive experience for all involved.
Bangladesh has endured immense suffering, both in the past and in the recent uprising. The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but with resilience, compassion and community support, we will be able to overcome these trials and build a brighter future.
