TBT DESK: In a city where millions of people share crowded streets and busy routines, finding the time and space to make new friends can be surprisingly difficult. An event in Dhaka is offering a simple way to change that, one conversation at a time.

The Flow Fest, in collaboration with Vinyl Madness, hosted a Speed Friending session in Dhanmondi on Saturday (10 October), bringing participants together for brief, guided conversations designed to make meeting new people feel more natural.

Held from 4.30pm to 6pm, the gathering offered an alternative to the usual ways of socialising, giving people an opportunity to step beyond their familiar circles and connect face to face.

Long working hours, traffic congestion and increasingly screen-based communication can make meaningful social interaction harder to find. Against this backdrop, the organisers designed the session to make the first step towards friendship less intimidating.

Participants spoke to one another in five-minute rounds, with a bell signalling when it was time to move on to the next person. Optional conversation prompts helped break the ice, while participants were encouraged to listen attentively, stay present and respect one another’s personal boundaries.

Unlike traditional speed dating, the format focused exclusively on friendship. The aim was not to manufacture instant bonds, but to make introductions easier and leave room for shared laughter, unexpected common ground and the possibility of lasting connections.

Vinyl Madness helped provide a relaxed setting for the gathering, with conversation at the heart of the experience. The Flow Fest hopes to continue organising sessions that allow people to meet without the pressure of formal introductions or the expectation of an immediate connection.

The next Speed Friending session is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October, at Hiroshi Ramen, in collaboration with the Female Traveller Network. The event will continue the initiative’s focus on friendship, conversation and community.