Everest conqueror Wasfia Nazreen has dedicated her remarkable feat to the country's women.

"We have achieved freedom 41 years ago, but our women are yet to enjoy freedom. I would like to dedicate the success to those women," Wasfia told newsmen yesterday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on her return home from Kathmandu.

She arrived in the capital at 1:30pm on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Family members, friends, sponsors, campaign associates, officials of women and children affairs ministry and fellow Everest conquerors Nishat Majumder and MA Mohit greeted her at the airport.

She launched her Everest expedition on March 26 under the campaign “Bangladesh on Seven Summits.”

She scaled the mountain on May 26 to become only the second Bangladeshi woman to achieve the accomplishment.

From the airport, she went to Rayerbazar killing field to pay tributes to the martyred intellectuals.

"People outside the country don't know about the progress our women have made over the last 41 years. Through my expedition, I want to spread the message of success of Bangladeshi women,” she asserted.

Wasfia observed that although the Bangladeshi women had made significant contribution to liberate the country in 1971, they are not properly recognised. She demanded proper recognition for them.

"What can be of more pride than the conquest of Everest by two Bangladeshi women in a span of a week?" she questioned.

She told about the hazards en route to the summit. "On my way down Everest, I faced the most dreadful moments when I slipped on a large iceberg. More such dangers followed and I was very close to death many a times…. Though I sometimes felt I might die, I never thought to give up."

"When I reached the summit, the sun was rising. The natural beauty of that moment cannot be depicted in words and photographs," she noted.

Asked about her future plan, the mountaineer said she will provide training to women on outdoor sports under Bangladesh on Seven Summits foundation. "I think the 21st century will be the century for women and peace.”

Regarding the role of young generation to build a prosperous country, she said the youth should draw inspiration from the success and work hard with maximum devotion in their respective fields.

Expressing his feelings to The Daily Star, Wasfia's father Nazmee J Chowdhury said, "I am relieved to see my daughter after a long time. I am proud of her and I wish she will complete her seven summit mission successfully."

Wasfia in July last year had started her expedition to climb the highest peaks of the seven continents under the “Bangladesh on Seven Summits” campaign.

On October 2 last year, she reached the highest peak of Africa, Uhuru peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

She scaled the peak of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina on December 16 last year.

On May 19, Nishat Majumder became the first Bangladeshi woman to reach the summit of Everest.

Fellow climber MA Mohit has scaled the mountain twice.

Musa Ibrahim was the first Bangladeshi to make successful ascent of Everest on May 23, 2010.