Shamaruh Mirza Unfiltered | Politics, Exile, Science, Family & Love | The OtherSide with Esha Rushdi

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The OtherSide by Esha Rushdi, we sit down with Dr. Shamaruh Mirza — medical scientist, community leader, women’s rights advocate, and daughter of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
This is not just a political conversation — it’s a human story.
From growing up in a politically turbulent household in Bangladesh to building a scientific career in Australia, from witnessing her father’s political struggles to founding SiTara’s Story, an organisation dedicated to women’s empowerment and mental well-being — Shamaruh speaks with honesty, depth, and courage.
For the first time in such detail, she also opens up about her relationship with her husband, writer and researcher Faham Abdus Salam, their intellectual partnership, personal sacrifices, disagreements, love, and shared journey across continents.
This episode explores:
The emotional cost of politics on families
Life as a political daughter in exile
Her identity beyond politics
The intersection of science, activism, womanhood, and motherhood
How trauma, resilience, and hope shape a person’s purpose
This conversation is raw, thoughtful, and essential — especially for anyone interested in Bangladesh politics, diaspora voices, women leaders, mental health advocacy, and real stories behind public figures.
🎙️ Watch till the end for one of the most honest reflections on power, pain, love, and purpose you’ll hear this year.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
Esha Rushdi introduces Dr. Shamaruh Mirza and the purpose of this deeply personal conversation
02:10 – Growing up as Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s daughter
What it means to be raised in a politically charged household in Bangladesh
06:45 – Childhood memories, fear, pride & political awareness
How politics shaped her emotional world from a young age
12:30 – The unseen cost of political struggle on families
Arrests, uncertainty, media scrutiny, and silent suffering
18:40 – Leaving Bangladesh & starting life abroad
Migration, identity crisis, and rebuilding life in Australia
24:15 – Her journey as a medical scientist
Education, research, professional challenges, and finding purpose in science
30:50 – Balancing career, activism & personal life
Being more than just a “politician’s daughter”
36:20 – Founding SiTara’s Story
Why she started the organisation and its mission for women’s mental health & empowerment
42:10 – Trauma, healing & women’s safe spaces
Why mental health conversations matter, especially for migrant women
48:30 – Marriage & partnership with Faham Abdus Salam
How love, intellect, disagreements, and mutual respect shape their relationship
55:40 – Public perception vs private reality
Being judged, misunderstood, and reclaiming her own narrative
01:01:30 – Motherhood, womanhood & resilience
How life experiences reshaped her priorities and strength
01:07:20 – Reflections on Bangladesh, democracy & hope
Thoughts on the future — personal and political
01:12:10 – Final message to women, families & the diaspora
A powerful closing reflection you don’t want to miss
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