Bangladesh’s first interactive mental health book launched

Dear Shadow, I See You, Bangladesh’s first interactive mental health book, was officially launched on January 11, 2026, at the Bookworm Bangladesh bookstore in Tu’Do Restaurant. 
 

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Written by Zarin Zeba Khan, the book combines reflective exercises and practical psychological insights to help readers explore self-awareness, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth. The book features 15 chapters covering essential topics such as attachment styles, love languages, and shadow work. Designed to be interactive, it encourages readers to engage actively with the material rather than passively read, fostering deeper understanding and self-reflection. At the launch, Syeda Samara Mortada, coordination and partnerships analyst at UN Women, praised the author’s perspective-driven approach, saying, “Zarin has a rare ability to understand others, even when they are in the wrong, and always seeks to explore the reasons behind their actions.

Economist and author War and Conflict: Failures of Global Leadership (2023) of Dr Shoaib Ahmed, former advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh in 2007–08, also spoke at the event. “I have known Zarin from her student days until today. In every endeavour, she brings creativity and thoughtful insight,” he said.
 

The launch saw attendance from senior representatives of the private sector, including Prime Bank, United Commercial Bank (UCB), and other institutions, as well as Farah Kabir, the country director of ActionAid Bangladesh.

Dear Shadow, I See You has been released under the project Checkmate: Think Twice, Think First, funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), with support from the High Commission Canada, Bangladesh.