Ikramul Hasan Shakil begins 'Sea to Summit' Everest trek from Cox's Bazar

As a Youth Advocate for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), mountaineer Ikramul Hasan Shakil started his journey to Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the Himalayas, on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, at 11:00 a.m. from Inani Sea Beach in Cox's Bazar.

The campaign began with a flag-raising ceremony attended by UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liler and Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne, among others.
In this expedition, he is expected to climb the 29,031-foot-high peak of Everest by covering a long and challenging route of about 1,300 kilometres through Bangladesh, India and Nepal in 90 days. The Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club accompanies him on this expedition. The expedition's main or title sponsor is the country's leading industrial company, Pran Group. Mr. Noodles is the snack partner. Makalu-e-Traders Nepal is the gear partner. Sistema Bangladesh and several adventure lovers are the health partners, which, if successful, has the potential to achieve a Guinness World Record.

Through this expedition, he wants to highlight the importance of preserving the environment, reducing carbon emissions, and achieving goals sustainably. After walking 1,300 kilometres from Cox's Bazar to Everest Base Camp, he will climb the peak of Everest. He aims to make even the most challenging expeditions possible without harming the environment.
Shakil said, "This expedition is not just an attempt to set a record; it is a call for urgent action against plastic pollution. By travelling from the Bay of Bengal to the highest peaks of the world, I want to make people think anew about the use of plastic and inspire everyone to come forward to protect the environment."

Highlighting the importance of plastic pollution, Stephane Liller, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP) in Bangladesh, said, " Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, endangering biodiversity, polluting the oceans and affecting the livelihoods of millions of people. Urgent action and widespread awareness are crucial to address this crisis. I hope  Shakil's campaign will inspire people to reduce single-use plastic and adopt a sustainable lifestyle. I wish him success in setting a Guinness World Record."