Dhaka, Bangladesh
In celebration of Sagarmatha Day, the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka has organized a captivating photo exhibition titled “Mountain Memories: Connecting Peaks and People” to commemorate International Mt. Everest Day 2024.
This three-day exhibition is being held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from May 31 to June 2, 2024.
The exhibition was jointly inaugurated on Friday by Bangladesh’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, and Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari.
Over 300 guests attended the inauguration ceremony, including government officials, diplomats, scholars, mountaineers, photographers, media personnel, and notable figures from various sectors of Bangladeshi society.
In his opening remarks, Minister Chowdhury highlighted Nepal’s status as a favored destination for Bangladeshis, who hold a deep fascination for the Himalayas and Mount Everest.
He emphasized the urgent need for regional and international partnerships to address the climate crisis impacting the Himalayas, which are at the forefront of global climate challenges.
Foreign Secretary Momen, the special guest, spoke about the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between Nepal and Bangladesh. He underscored the shared spirit of adventure and the role of mountaineering and trekking in fostering closer connections between the two nations.
Ambassador Bhandari noted that Sagarmatha Day not only commemorates the historic first ascent of the world’s highest peak but also serves as a reminder of the importance of mountains and their environments.
He emphasized the need to protect the Himalayan region from climate change and highlighted the exhibition’s goal of showcasing Nepal’s majestic landscapes to the Bangladeshi audience through photographs taken by both Nepali and Bangladeshi mountaineers, hikers, and photographers.
Salahuddin Ahmed, Secretary of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, praised the embassy’s initiative to celebrate Sagarmatha Day with the exhibition. Enam Ul-Haque, the exhibition’s curator, discussed the emerging trends in mountaineering and adventure tourism in Bangladesh, noting that each photograph tells a unique story of courage, determination, and resilience.
During the event, Mohd Babar Ali, a Bangladeshi who summitted Mount Everest on May 19, 2024, and Mrs. Tahmina Shaili, the wife of the late Khalid Hossain who reached the summit in 2013, were honored for their achievements.
The exhibition features 120 stunning photographs capturing the essence of the Himalayas and the spirit of mountaineering, trekking, and adventure.
It is organized in collaboration with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the Bangla Mountaineering Club and will run until Sunday, offering visitors a visual journey through the peaks and landscapes that connect Nepal and Bangladesh.
