Speakers at a discussion on Wednesday stressed mental health counselling and effective rehabilitation for survivors of the July uprising, calling for coordinated national efforts to support their recovery and reintegration.
The discussion, organised by the Human Rights Development Centre in collaboration with the Danish Institute Against Torture and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, was held at the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital auditorium in Dhaka city.
Inaugurating the event, Mahbubur Rahman Bashir, father of July martyr Mahmudur Rahman Shoikot, said that families of those killed in the uprising were still struggling to return to normal life.
July Shaheed Smriti Foundation chief executive officer retired Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Akbar said that although the foundation was working with a limited number of survivors, at least 12,454 survivors were still suffering from depression and in need of comprehensive rehabilitation.
The Human Rights Development Centre has adopted a project titled 鈥楯uly uprising survivors鈥� aimed at strengthening rehabilitation and mental health and psychosocial support services for the survivors of the July uprising and their families.
Health secretary Md Saidur Rahman stressed institutional coordination and collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the banks to ensure sustainable survivor support.
Professor Dr Md Abu Jafor, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, said that 40 July uprising survivors had been sent abroad for advanced medical treatment.
Shamsi Ara Zaman, general secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation and mother of martyred journalist Tahir Zaman Priyo, urged that people with mental health conditions should not be stigmatised.
HRDC secretary general and chief executive officer Md Mahbubul Haque gave the welcome speech, while its director Md Jianur Kabir presented data on mental health consequences of the uprising.
Anders Karlsen, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Denmark, reaffirmed their country鈥檚 commitment to supporting rehabilitation and mental health and psychosocial support for conflict-affected individuals in Bangladesh.
Several July uprising survivors shared their experiences, urging for continued rehabilitation, inclusion, and dignity.
The workshop, chaired by National Institute of Mental Health professor Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman, was also addressed by, among others, NGO Affairs Bureau joint secretary Md Anwar Hossain, Jena Derakhshani Hamadani, Sumaiya Tasnim, Farhad Hossain, Md Masud Rana Sourav and Aminur Rasul.
