At BRAC University, the 3rd National Youth Wellness Festival begins with over 500 students coming together to to Prioritize Mental Health and Connection

Hundreds of students from across Dhaka have gathered at BRAC University for the opening of the 3rd National Youth Wellness Festival.

The event, titled ‘The Flow Fest’ and held in partnership with Prime Now, saw more than 500 participants from 10 different universities congregate on Wednesday to address the growing challenges of youth mental health.

The festival was inaugurated at 10:00 local time (04:00 GMT) at the university’s multipurpose hall. The proceedings began with a collective yoga session, setting a reflective tone for a day designed to bridge the gap between academic pressures and personal well-being.

‘True leadership’

Inaugurating the event, chief guest Israfil Khosru, founder of the think tank ‘The Bangladeshi’ and member of the BCB ad hoc committee, told attendees that the younger generation plays a “vital role” in shaping national dialogue.

“True leadership begins with self-awareness and mental clarity,” Mr Khosru said during his opening address.

The morning sessions featured a ‘Wellness Now’ panel, where experts discussed modern stressors including digital burnout and career-related anxiety. The afternoon transitioned into physical activities, including self-defence, fencing, and a dance session led by Arthi, aimed at using movement as a medium for emotional release.

Finding a ‘flow’

A central component of the first day was the ‘Healing Hour’, which provided ten activity stations ranging from mindfulness practices to expressive arts. Organisers said the initiative was built around the theme “You Be You: Find Your Flow,” intended to demonstrate that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to mental health.

Shazia Omar, founder of The Flow Fest, said the turnout proved that Bangladeshi youth are “hungry” for such conversations.

“By bringing together students from ten different universities, we are showing them that they aren’t alone in their struggles,” she said. “Healing happens when we show up for ourselves and each other.”

The first day concluded with a communal singing session featuring the musical act Black Bus. The festival is set to continue on Thursday, 23 April, with scheduled sessions on financial wellness and addiction awareness, before concluding with a performance by Vintage Theory.