Bangladesh’s youth are exhausted! Are they ready for a change?

Bangladesh’s university students are quietly carrying a heavy burden, and a new youth wellness survey has brought their struggles into sharp focus. Conducted among 1,500 students across ten universities in Dhaka during the Third National Youth Wellness Festival 2026, the findings reveal a generation running low on sleep, energy, and emotional support.

Nearly two in three students said they feel stressed almost every day, while more than half sleep six hours or less each night. Many blamed demanding university schedules for their exhaustion, with long study hours and constant pressure leaving them mentally drained even without physical work.

The reasons behind this stress stretch beyond classrooms. Students pointed to financial worries, family expectations, uncertainty about careers, social media comparisons, and relationship struggles as daily pressures shaping their lives.

Yet amid the fatigue, there are signs of hope. Activities such as yoga, breathing sessions, dance, art, and meditation drew strong interest at the festival, with many students saying they now want to prioritise their wellbeing. The findings send a clear message: Bangladesh’s youth are exhausted, but they are also ready for change. Experts say universities, families, and communities must work together to create safer, kinder, and healthier spaces for students.