Dhaka Flow Youth Fest Kicks Off at NSU

On Sunday, April 13, North South University (NSU) witnessed the powerful launch of the Dhaka Flow’s Second Annual Youth Festival 2025, a campus wellness movement that aims to transform how students approach mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Dhaka Flow will visit 10 universities this month to unleash the true potential of our future leaders, as fitness is foundational to success, performance, and inner growth.

Packed with energy, laughter, and open-hearted conversations, the first event at NSU brought together hundreds of students for a day of yoga, breathwork, fitness, group therapy, and inspirational talks by top coaches and thought leaders. More than just a series of sessions, Dhaka Flow’s Youth Fest is on a mission to break the taboo around seeking help and dismantle the stigma around therapy.

The festival features over a dozen interactive classes, including trauma-informed yoga and self-defense. Sessions are led by a renowned team of coaches, alongside guest speakers ranging from mental health professionals to entrepreneurs and university leaders who champion student wellness. Some of the key speakers lined up include Tabith Awal, President of the Bangladesh Football Federation; Shameran Abed, Executive Director of BRAC International; and Faiaz Rahman, Director, Urmi Group, and numerous youth entrepreneurs from JCI (Junior Chamber International) Bangladesh.

This event is made possible because of sponsors Olympic Industries Limited and Techno Drugs Ltd. Olympic Industries is the largest manufacturer and distributor of biscuits and various other consumables in Bangladesh, and Techno Drugs is one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical formulation companies in Bangladesh.

Throughout the day at NSU, students partook in several wellness sessions, such as self-defense with Shadman Sakif and a talk on mental health with United Hospital’s Dr. Salma Ikram. The spirit of the event was deeply rooted in connection, with honest conversations on anxiety, confidence, identity, and purpose rippling through the packed rooms.

“University students are under immense pressure — emotionally, academically, and socially,” said Arefeen Raafi Ahmed, Managing Director of Techno Drugs Ltd. “What Dhaka Flow is offering is a safe space for movement, reflection, and community. A place where students can say, ‘I’m not okay’ and find tools to feel whole again.”

An official rep from Olympic Industries added, “Strong minds start with strong bodies. Fuel your hustle with healthy habits—because the future belongs to the well.”

This year, nine other major universities are hosting the Youth Fest, including IUBAT, Canadian University, ULAB, IUB, East West University, Presidency University, UCB, BRAC University, and AIUB. Each campus experience is carefully tailored to its student body, with support from partners JCI and United Hospital.
By bringing holistic wellness into the heart of academic life, Dhaka Flow hopes to spark a cultural shift — one where therapy is normalized, fitness is celebrated, and healing becomes a shared, community-driven journey. If you’re a student at one of the participating universities and want to join, register at dhakaflow.com/youthfest2025.

The next stop on the Youth Fest tour is IUBAT, on April 15.