On February 25, 2025, Iqramul Hasan Shakil began his "Sea to Summit" expedition -- walking from Cox's Bazar to the summit of Mount Everest. Only one person, Tim Macartney-Snape, has attempted this before in 1990, walking 1,200 km before his Everest ascent. Shakil aims to complete roughly 1,300 km in 90 days, becoming the youngest and fastest to complete such a journey -- a feat that will be a remarkable milestone for the country too.

This isn't just an adventure. Carrying the message of reducing single-use plastic pollution and lowering carbon emissions, Shakil, sometimes joined by friends and fellow adventurers on the way, started his walk from Cox's Bazar on February 25 and reached Dhaka after 12 days.

On March 9, at a press conference in Dhaka, he detailed his plan and urged sponsors to come forward to fulfil his goal -- a costly adventure. The permit to climb Everest alone costs $15,000.

After a few days of reorganising, Shakil resumed his walk in mid-March from Sayedabad, joined by fellow adventurers.

I joined the group in Kawran Bazar. That day's walk wrapped up in Pallabi, after passing through the heart of the city -- Farmgate, Agargaon, and Mirpur -- filled with conversations about Everest and past climbs.

I have finished Ironman70.3 and crossed the Bangla Channel, but joining Shakil for a short time in his effort felt special. People often call us "crazy" for chasing these kinds of adventures. But not everyone is meant to do everything, and if a few so-called crazy ones end up setting world records, maybe being a little crazy isn't such a bad thing after all.

The next day, we covered 34.21km from Ashulia to Kaliakair. We were greeted by dust, honking, and the chaos of traffic. To escape the noise, we took an alternate path via Zirabo but eventually rejoined the main road. Since Shakil's ancestral home is nearby, we dropped by. His mother's blessings and home-cooked meal gave us a moment of comfort and a surge of strength for the road ahead.

On day three, we reached Tangail, walking 37.97km. Walking amidst intense heat for long, straight stretches of highway with no shade wasn't easy. Shakil battled painful blisters, slowing our pace.

The next day, we set off early from the Tangail Circuit House. A pleasant breeze and vibrant green fields guided us through the countryside. At Baghil, we met friends who came to join us in swimming across the Jamuna. A drizzle fell as we approached the riverbanks, where the mighty Jamuna awaited.

First, we swam across the shallow Bangshi river without any support boat. Then, after a short walk along the embankment to Doliapara, we prepared for the real challenge. Swimmers geared up, drones flew overhead, and the river roared with wind and current. The first crossing took us through thick mud and farming chars. Then came the real test.

The Jamuna current was brutal. Shakil, exhausted and not a confident swimmer, struggled with every stroke. Helal, one of the companions, cramped midway. I had to take hold of Shakil, pushing forward despite my own fatigue. It felt endless. But finally, we reached the other side, collapsing on the sand in relief.

Wrapped in dry clothes, Shakil shivered. Yet, he smiled through the tears. "Maybe Everest will be easier," he joked. "You were my river Sherpas today."

The sun dipped behind the Jamuna Bridge. After walking over 100 kilometres and crossing the 3-km-wide mighty Jamuna, we finally reached Sirajganj -- shaken but filled with an unforgettable sense of triumph.

I feel so proud to be a part of Shakil's journey. Though we parted ways at Sirajganj, Shakil continued as required by his mission. Walking through several districts, Shakil crossed into India through the Banglanandha land port on March 29. After walking through West Bengal, he crossed into Nepal through the Panitanki-Karabhitta border on March 31.

As of yesterday, Shakil was on his way to Everest Base Camp after acclimatising at the Kanchenjunga Base Camp.  

This wasn't just Shakil's journey -- it became a shared story of courage, camaraderie, and resilience.