"The Lingering Shadows of Trauma in Bangladesh"
"The Lingering Shadows of Trauma in Bangladesh"
"How can Bangladesh's fractured society, weighed down by layers of trauma, begin to heal?"
**"In the first week of July, during the eruption of the ‘anti-discrimination student movement’ in Bangladesh demanding quota reform, I was in Dhaka. Having closely observed recent student movements in the country, I paid particular attention to this one from its outset. By the second week of July, when I returned to Delhi, the protests were still ongoing. On the very day of my return, news broke of an attack on students at Jahangirnagar University, my alma mater. Under the cover of darkness, they were assaulted, with female students among the injured. That night, I could not sleep—it felt as if the oppressive shadow of the Pakistani regime had returned to Bangladesh.
On July 17, the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed infused new fervor into the resistance against Sheikh Hasina’s governance. However, that same night, the internet was shut down across the country, cutting off communication. During this blackout, I spent my days in dialogue with Indian journalists, trying to amplify the movement’s story. To steady my own resolve, I immersed myself in Jahanara Imam’s Days of ’71. As a representative of this generation, I found deep parallels between the July uprising and the heroic struggle of Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war.
Much like the period following 1971, Bangladesh is currently navigating a transitional phase in the post-Hasina era. This moment is marked by widespread chaos, trauma, anxiety, and heightened societal expectations. However, it is commendable that despite the upheaval, the country has managed to avoid descending into civil war or communal riots—a testament to the resilience of its society, government, and other stakeholders. Nevertheless, the younger generation is grappling with the lingering effects of post-conflict trauma.
This generation in Bangladesh has witnessed two significant mass protests in 2018: the Quota Reform Movement and the Road Safety Protest. Both saw widespread participation, particularly from students, and were marked by their largely peaceful nature.
In contrast, the Anti-Discrimination Movement of 2024 stands apart from any protest in the past decade in Bangladesh. Unlike previous movements, this uprising was not led by political parties; it emerged from the people’s demand for political change. The movement was fueled by inspiring events and causes that resonated across all sections of society, compelling large-scale participation."**
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