Kathmandu: The Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka organized an ‘Expedition Video Contest’ to commemorate the 73rd International Sagarmatha Day under the theme ‘Mountains, Milestones, and Memories’ with the support of Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC), in Dhaka on June 5.
A total of 16 expeditioners representing various mountaineering and trekking clubs across Bangladesh participated in the Expedition Video Contest, sharing inspiring stories and experiences through their short videos.
The programme also featured the screening of the documentary ‘Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest,’ which told the inspiring story of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest.
Formal session of the programme commenced with a video message from the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Shisir Khanal, who highlighted Sagarmatha as an embodiment of hope, strength, and resilience and underscored the need to protect fragile mountain ecosystems in the face of climate change.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Ghanashyam Bhandari, Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, stressed the significance of International Sagarmatha Day as a commemoration of the first successful ascent of the highest peak and a reflection on humanity’s close relationship with nature. He underscored Nepal’s commitment to preserving the mountain ecosystems and promoting sustainable mountain tourism. Expressing satisfaction over the growing number of Bangladeshi mountaineers and adventure enthusiasts, he commended their role in further strengthening people-to-people relations between the two countries.
The Chief Guest of the event, Hon. Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of Bangladesh, Abdul Awal Mintoo, emphasized the need to work together to address the impacts of climate change on mountains and communities dependent on them and called for regional cooperation for climate action. He also commended the role of mountaineers in promoting environmental awareness, building friendship, and strengthening people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Nepal.
Chairperson of BRAC, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Founder of Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC), Mr. Enam Ul-Haque, and Judge of the Contest, Mr. Kha Ma Harum also spoke during the event.
The top three videos of the Contest were:
All three contestants were awarded with crests and certificates by the Chief Guest Minister Mintoo and Ambassador Bhandari.
The event brought together government officials, diplomats, mountaineers, trekkers, adventure enthusiasts, nature photographers, civil society leaders, and media persons.
