Diplomatic Desk:
Everest-conquering Bangladeshi mountaineer Ikramul Hasan Shakil has undertaken an initiative to hoist the national flag of Bangladesh atop Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe.
Standing at an elevation of 5,642 meters, Mount Elbrus is located in Russia’s Caucasus mountain range. Shakil is set to travel to Russia this September with the aim of summiting the peak.
On Friday (September 11, 2026), the national flag of Bangladesh was handed over to Ikramul Hasan Shakil during a press conference and flag-handover ceremony held at the Russian House in Dhaka. He will hoist the flag upon reaching the summit of Mount Elbrus.
The organizers announced that Shakil will depart from Dhaka for Russia on September 19, 2026. This approximately 15-day expedition aims not only to tackle the challenges of high-altitude mountaineering but also to convey a message of friendship and mutual respect between Bangladesh and Russia.
The organizers expressed hope that hoisting the Bangladeshi flag atop Mount Elbrus would serve as a symbolic expression of the shared spirit of courage, adventure, exploration, and discovery among the people of both nations.
This mountaineering expedition is being jointly organized by the Russian House in Dhaka and the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC).
