Published: May 31, 2025, 02:32 PM
Image: Daily Observer
A significant number of individuals injured during the July uprising in Bangladesh are now battling severe mental health issues, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a recent study.
The research, conducted by Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), revealed that 82.5% of victims suffer from depression, while 64.1% are affected by PTSD. The findings were published on 18 May in the online medical journal Cureus, under Springer Nature.
Victims like 12-year-old Sakib Hasan and 23-year-old Khokon Chandra Barman are among those struggling. Sakib, who lost an eye during a protest, spent weeks in silence at the hospital and has since withdrawn from treatment altogether. His mother, Sabina Yasmin, recounted running from hospital to hospital for eight months with her injured son.
Khokon, disfigured after being shot in the face in Jatrabari, still finds it hard to look in the mirror. “I wish I had died instead,” he said, adding that the anxiety over delayed treatment only worsens his depression.
The study titled "Mental Health Consequences of the July Revolution in Bangladesh" involved 217 injured individuals, including six women. They were interviewed between September 2024 and February 2025 across three major hospitals: BMU, the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, and the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
Nearly 20% of participants were diagnosed with severe depression, while a similar percentage suffer from severe PTSD. Symptoms reported include suicidal thoughts, emotional numbness, impulsive behavior, and even self-harm.
The study also found a higher prevalence of PTSD and depression among rural victims, citing limited access to healthcare, social support, and financial resources as contributing factors. Most of the victims (89.4%) sustained gunshot injuries. Around 48% were aged between 20 and 29, and 25% were under 20.
Only 2.8% of participants were female, with the vast majority being male. Around 56.7% came from urban areas, while the rest were from rural backgrounds. A large portion were students and from lower-middle-income families.
Khokon was later flown to Russia for reconstructive surgery funded by the government, but he continues to live with severe disfigurement and emotional trauma. “Even children are frightened when they see me,” he said.
Sakib underwent multiple surgeries, including the placement of a prosthetic eye. His family has since left Dhaka and returned to their village in Sherpur, struggling to cope with the trauma.
Dr. Mohammad Shamsul Ahsan, associate professor of psychiatry at BMU and lead author of the study, warned of a long-term public health crisis if mental health support is not provided urgently. He noted that many victims avoided hospitals for days due to fear of arrest, particularly in areas like Savar and Ashulia, where police allegedly blocked access to treatment.
“Many victims witnessed or experienced extreme violence. Without coordinated psychological care, this could escalate into a national mental health emergency,” said Dr. Ahsan.
