Bangladeshi mountaineer scales Mount Elbrus in Bangladesh-Russia friendship expedition

Bangladeshi mountaineer Ikramul Hasan Shakil successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia and Europe, on 26 September as part of a Bangladesh-Russia friendship expedition.

Russian House in Dhaka hosted a press conference, flag handover ceremony and photo exhibition on Thursday (5 November) to celebrate the achievement under the banner of “Ashes & Ice: The Dormant Giant Expedition 2026”.

The press conference was led by Enam Ul Haque, founder of the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC).

Shakil shared his experiences through a presentation and a video documenting the expedition. He recounted the challenges faced by the team, including heavy snowfall, freezing winds and poor visibility, before successfully reaching the summit.

He also expressed gratitude to Russian House in Dhaka for its support and cooperation throughout the expedition.

One of the highlights of the event was the formal handover of the Bangladesh national flag carried to the summit of Mount Elbrus, marking a notable achievement in the country's mountaineering history.

A photo exhibition documenting the expedition was also inaugurated at the gallery of Russian House in Dhaka.

Alexandra A Khlevnoy, director of Russian House in Dhaka, joined Shakil and other guests at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the exhibition. Guests later viewed photographs capturing key moments of the challenging journey.

The expedition was described as a testament to determination, courage and perseverance, as well as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia.