TRUTH, HEALING, AND RECONCILIATION – EPISODE 1
Mass movements are often remembered through their victories, political outcomes, and historical significance. Far less attention is paid to the emotional and psychological impact on the people who participated in them. While the July Movement transformed the political landscape of Bangladesh, many of those who stood at the forefront of the protests continue to grapple with experiences that remain largely unseen and unaddressed.
For some participants, the end of the movement brought not only hope but also exhaustion, grief, disillusionment, and a sense of detachment. Many returned to their everyday lives without adequate support systems, spaces for reflection, or opportunities to process what they had witnessed and endured.
This episode explores the often-overlooked human consequences of political struggle. Through the experiences of two July fighters, it asks how individuals navigate the aftermath of collective resistance, what forms of support are missing, and whether communities can play a role in healing when institutional mechanisms are absent.
Guests
Abdullah Al Saikat, July fighter and student activist, KUET
Kaniz Fatama Zabin, July fighter and student activist, BRAC University
Host
Prapti Taposhi is a Bangladeshi feminist and activist on the faculty of Development Studies at Netrokona University. For nearly a decade she has helped shape the country’s most consequential movements — Quota Reform, Road Safety, Rage Against Rape, and the July 2024 anti-discrimination uprising, during which she became the first student to denounce the regime in international media (DW, Al Jazeera, BBC). She founded Shekol Bhangaar Podojaatra, Dhaka’s first midnight women’s march.
