Zisan once stood on the streets, fighting against injustice. His eyes held dreams, and his voice carried the strength of protest. But then, a sudden spray of bullets shattered his life. To this day, Zisan carries the wounds of those bullets — not just on his body but also in his mind. He suffers from sleep disturbances, sudden heart palpitations, and startles at the slightest noise. Once a source of courage for others, he is now battling an invisible pain of his own. Zisan is not alone - Aziz, Alamgir, Asma, and Taukir share the same agonies. Some were hit in the eyes, others lost parts of their limbs, and some still carry hidden bullets deep within their bodies. While their physical wounds have healed, their psychological scars have only deepened over time. To help them overcome this turmoil within, Soforon Foundation organized the 2nd installation of ‘Nirban’ workshop. Held on Friday May 16, 2025, at the BRAC Center, Mohakhali, this day-long workshop emphasized the importance of mental well-being, self care, and rehabilitation for the mass uprising fighters. The Chief Guests of the workshop were the Heroes of the July Uprising, who bravely sacrificed themselves for a discrimination-free, fair, and just society. While their battles on the streets may have ended, their psychological struggles persist. Among the Guests of Honors were Chairman of ADN Telecom Asif Mahmood; Barrister Miti Sanjana, Partner & Head of Chamber of Legal Counsel; Prokash Roy Chowdhury, Director (Marketing & Sales) of BDJobs. Representing the host organizations, Shoumik Datta, Executive Director of Soforon Foundation also shared his perspectives. Renowned mental health experts and researchers shared various guidelines during the workshop. The training sessions were conducted by Zohora Parveen, Clinical Supervisor of Health Equity Initiative (HEI) Malaysia and Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Azizul Islam, Principal of US-Bangla Medical College. Imdadul Haque Talukder,PhD, Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Psychology at North South University; and Raihana Sharmin, Lecturer of Psychology at the same university, facilitated & guided the participants throughout the workshop. The Strategic Partner of the 'Nirban' workshop was the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Event Partner was Cognitively Yours, and Research Partner was GROW. The speakers emphasized the importance of supportive strategies, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and proper rehabilitation measures to ensure the mental well-being of the uprising’s fighters. According to the organizers, ensuring the mental well-being of these selfless youth is crucial in building a just and exploitation-free Bangladesh. This workshop is part of an ongoing initiative to provide them with support and rehabilitation, enabling them to dream again and contribute to the creation of a new Bangladesh.

ADN Telecom Chairman Asif Mahmud said, "You have demonstrated incredible courage during the July uprising. What we could never achieve in our lifetime, you have accomplished. We also protested during Ershad’s era, but the situation has never been as horrific as this time. A large portion of your workforce is now suffering. We hope you will move forward from this position."

Barrister Miti Sanjana, a women's rights activist and writer, said, "I have met many people who are going through mental trauma. During the movement, we saw women as prominent faces, but later, they are no longer visible. They are being threatened, and they have not yet been able to overcome that trauma. If we can develop ourselves, we will grow stronger."

Dr. Abdus Samad, Associate Professor of History at Jagannath University, stated, "Our wealthy and elite did not think about the next generation. They have ruined our promising population. Now we have become global citizens, and instead of thinking about our crises only from our own perspective, we should think about them globally. That way, solving our problems will become much easier. The world is vast. The change we have brought through the revolution of '24 is something that many nations cannot achieve. We are the dreamers of your transformation, and we want to be part of that change."

Prakash Roy Chowdhury, Director of BDJobs, said, "What we have done, we have done for the country, for the nation. If any mistakes have occurred, they are not our responsibility. The fault lies with those who are driving this system forward. They have failed to lead it properly."

Mostafa Mahmud Hossain, CEO of Cloud System Limited, stated, "You have courage; you can fight. This is your software. There are many such software programs among the July warriors. All the software that exists among such people needs to be updated."

Soumik P. Dutta, Executive Director of Safaran Foundation, stated, "Those injured in the July uprising are still experiencing severe trauma. Alongside physical treatment, mental health care is also crucial. The primary goal of this initiative is to help them return to normal life. It is expected that those participating in the workshop will be able to take care of their own mental health." Previously, on February 27, Safaran Foundation organized a similar workshop, where 30 July warriors participated.