Shakil carried Bangladesh flag to summit of Europe’s highest peak
DHAKA, November 5: Russian House in Dhaka on Thursday honoured Bangladeshi mountaineer Ikramul Hasan Shakil for successfully scaling Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and Europe, carrying the national flag to its summit.
Shakil reached the 5,642-metre summit on September 26 as part of “Ashes & Ice: The Dormant Giant Expedition 2026”, a Bangladesh-Russia friendship expedition aimed at promoting mountaineering and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
To celebrate the achievement, Russian House in Dhaka organised a press conference, flag-in ceremony and photo exhibition at its auditorium.
Enam Ul Haque, founder of the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC), presided over the event.
Sharing his expedition experiences, Shakil presented an account of the challenging journey alongside a video documenting the ascent. He described how heavy snowfall, freezing winds and poor visibility tested the mountaineers throughout their climb before they successfully reached the summit.
He also expressed gratitude to Russian House in Dhaka for its support and cooperation in making the expedition possible.
One of the highlights of the event was the formal handover of the Bangladesh national flag that Shakil had carried to the summit of Mount Elbrus, marking a significant achievement for the country's mountaineering community.
The event also featured the inauguration of a dedicated photo exhibition at the Russian House gallery, displaying photographs documenting the expedition and its memorable moments.
Alexandra A. Khlevnoy, director of Russian House in Dhaka, inaugurated the Photo exhibition. Guests later explored the photographs capturing the mountaineers' journey and their experience of conquering the snow-covered peak.
The expedition highlighted the role of sports, adventure and cultural exchanges in strengthening Bangladesh-Russia relations beyond conventional diplomatic engagement.
The successful summit, organisers said, demonstrated courage, determination and perseverance while creating another opportunity to deepen the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Russia.
