In 2024, the University of Dhaka strengthened its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 3—Good Health and Well-being—through a series of outreach programmes aimed at promoting both physical and mental wellness, while also extending humanitarian support to displaced and disaster-affected communities. These initiatives reflect the university’s deep sense of social responsibility and its belief that education must extend beyond classrooms to build healthier, more resilient societies.

One of the most visible examples of this outreach was the Dhaka University Wellness Festival, organized at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) in partnership with the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA). The festival addressed a pressing issue in the country’s higher education landscape: the growing mental health challenges faced by young people. Through open discussions, interactive workshops, and creative activities, the festival reframed the conversation from “mental health” to “wellness,” encouraging a more positive and proactive view of emotional well-being. Alongside expert-led sessions on stress management, self-expression, and emotional awareness, students participated in activities such as art therapy and mindfulness exercises. The event not only raised awareness but also normalized dialogue around psychological health—a step forward in reducing stigma and creating a supportive campus culture.

Complementing these events, the Office of StudentCounsellingand Guidance continued its long-standing mission to provide structured mental health support to students. Established in 1963, the office has developed a comprehensive approach that combines one-on-one counselling, workshops, and peer mentoring to address personal, academic, and emotional challenges. In the last four years, over 1,300 students have participated in more than 5,000 counselling sessions. Services are currently available in all five women’s dormitories and selected men’s halls, ensuring that psychological support remains accessible. The counselling centre also runs awareness campaigns on World Mental Health Day and World Suicide Prevention Day, organizes stress and anger management workshops, and offers special assistance for students with disabilities. Through these services, the university fosters a sense of belonging, resilience, and self-efficacy among its students—essential elements of a healthy learning environment.

Beyond campus boundaries, the University of Dhaka community played an active humanitarian role during the devastating floods of August 2024, which displaced thousands across Bangladesh. In response, students organized a large-scale relief and rescue initiative under the banner “Gonotraan,” coordinated from the TSC grounds. The movement, led by the Students Against Discrimination, mobilized widespread support from both students and the general public. Over 2.9 million taka was raised, alongside truckloads of essential supplies including food, water, medicines, and life jackets. Volunteer teams of DU students personally delivered aid and participated in rescue efforts across flood-affected districts such as Sylhet, Feni, Khagrachhari, and Cumilla. They worked day and night, often in challenging conditions, to ensure that relief reached isolated communities. This student-led initiative demonstrated the university’s strong culture of civic engagement and its capacity to respond to national emergencies with compassion and organization.

Together, these efforts—the wellness festival, the ongoing counselling services, and the relief and rescue operations—illustrate the University of Dhaka’s multi-dimensional approach to health outreach. The university’s initiatives address both mental well-being within its community and physical health and safety among vulnerable populations affected by disaster. Through education, counselling, and humanitarian action, DU continues to uphold its commitment to improving health and well-being outcomes.