Beyond the Horizon: Shakil’s record-breaking trek from Cox’s Bazar to Everest

In an extraordinary display of endurance, courage, and conviction, Ikramul Hasan Shakil has made history by conquering Mount Everest after an 84-day trek starting from the shores of Cox's Bazar's Inani Beach.

Initially aiming to complete his "Sea to Summit" journey within 90 days, Shakil beat his own deadline, becoming the seventh Bangladeshi to stand atop the world's highest peak.

More than a physical challenge, Shakil's expedition carried a powerful message about environmental responsibility. Starting on 25 February, he walked from the plastic-polluted beaches of Cox's Bazar, covering approximately 1,300 kilometres through Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, before reaching Everest's 8,848.86-metre summit early on 19 May.

Reflecting on the climb in a heartfelt Facebook post, Shakil described the harrowing experience. 

"The path was anything but easy. Through the deepest ice of the Himalayas, each step was a fragile balance between life and death," he wrote.

From Khumbu Icefall to the Hillary Step, through oxygen-starved zones and narrow ridgelines, he often questioned whether he could continue. But the call of his homeland and the mission kept him moving forward.

Expedition with a purpose

At its core, the "Sea to Summit" expedition was a call to action: the Earth is ours to protect. 

"From the sea to the summit, we must fight plastic pollution and reduce carbon emissions to secure our future," Shakil said.

His journey began in a place where the impact of pollution is stark – Cox's Bazar, where plastic waste suffocates marine and mountain ecosystems alike.

For Shakil, mountaineering is more than adventure – it is duty, protest, and promise. 

"If we can conquer Everest, we can overcome the ignorance within ourselves," he added.

As he stood on the summit, overwhelmed by emotion, he felt the weight of his success was shared with his country, his people, and every dreamer daring to push beyond their limits.

Shakil also paid tribute to his guide and friend, Tashi Galjen Sherpa, who has already summited Everest three times this season and is now attempting a fourth. The duo had long envisioned achieving record-breaking climbs together, and they did. While Shakil has completed his mission, Galjen's journey continues.

A record rewritten

Enam Ul Haque, founder of the Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club, confirmed Shakil's historic ascent at 6am on 19 May. 

His 84-day walk eclipses the record of Australian mountaineer Tim Macartney-Snape, who in 1990 trekked over 1,200 kilometres from Gangasagar, India, and summited Everest in more than three months.

But for Shakil, this is only the beginning. 

"Sea to Summit" is not just an expedition – it's a revolution. A wake-up call. 

"If we don't act now, there may come a day when Everest, the paths we walk, and the air we breathe no longer exist," he warned.

Ikramul Hasan Shakil's journey is a beacon of hope and a call for action – for Bangladesh and beyond. His feat reminds us that with courage, conviction, and care for the planet, no peak is too high to conquer.