Mugdho-Mon—meaning Enchanted Mind—was conceived as a digital sanctuary for collective healing in the aftermath of one of the darkest chapters in Bangladesh’s recent history. The July 2024 uprising, initially sparked by a peaceful student movement opposing the reinstatement of the government job quota system, rapidly unfurled into a national uproar for justice, equity, and democratic values. What followed was a brutal and bloody crackdown: over 1,400 protestors, including more than 100 children, lost their lives, and over 11,700 individuals were detained arbitrarily. Streets once filled with hope were silenced by violence, and the nation mourned in collective shock and unresolved grief. In response to the profound psychological trauma borne by young people and protest-affected communities, Mugdho-Mon emerged—not as a clinical intervention, but as a community-driven act of care. Co-founded by Dr. M. Tasdik Hasan, a digital mental health researcher from Monash University, Bushra Mahmuda and Tawhida Shiropa from Moner Bondhu, the initiative seeks to transform despair into dialogue, and isolation into solidarity. Operating entirely in virtual spaces, Mugdho-Mon offers moderated peer support circles, where clinical psychologists guide participants through shared experiences of loss, anxiety, and resilience. These spaces are intentionally designed to be safe, empathetic, and inclusive—bridging the silence with stories, and healing through human connection. From July 2024 to February 2025, Mugdho-Mon has organised 29 sessions engaging 324 participants around the country in addition to 100+ referrals. More than a platform, Mugdho-Mon is a poetic resistance against invisibility—honouring the emotional aftermath of state violence and amplifying the voices of those who refuse to be broken. It stands as a living testament to the power of digital care, grassroots solidarity, and the enduring human need to feel seen, heard, and held.
