Hiker Ahsanul scales Mera Peak amid harsh Himalayan weather

Bangladeshi adventurer Md Ahsanul Haque Khandaker summited Mera Peak Central in the Himalayas._11zon

Bangladeshi adventurer Md Ahsanul Haque Khandaker summited Mera Peak Central (6,461 meters) in Nepal's Himalayas this week.

Along the way, he had to battle fierce winds and freezing temperatures in what climbers are calling one of the most unpredictable autumn seasons in recent memory.

Ahsanul, a corporate professional turned high-altitude climber, set out from Kathmandu on October 27.

His route took him through the classic trail via Lukla, Kote, and Khare before a final night push from Mera High Camp. He topped out at 9:58 a.m. on November 5, fighting through heavy gusts and snow flurries near the summit.

“It was brutal,” he said afterwards. “But every hardship on that mountain felt worth it when I looked out from the top.”

Recently, at least seven climbers died after being hit by an avalanche in the Himalayas.

His Himalayan journey started five years ago with treks across Bangladesh's highest peaks in Bandarban.

By 2020, he'd moved on to Nepal, completing Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, and the Annapurna Circuit—each one pushing him a little higher. In 2023, he became the first Bangladeshi to summit Yala Peak (5,520 meters) in winter, a climb that tested both his endurance and resolve.

Mera Peak is now his highest summit yet—and perhaps his most meaningful.

“Mountains teach you humility,” he said. “You learn what the human body and mind can truly endure.”

The 36-year-old left his corporate desk job to pursue the high-altitude life full-time. He describes mountaineering as a search for freedom.

“The corporate life felt suffocating. On a mountain, you feel alive,” he said.

Ahsanul plans to return to Dhaka by November 15, carrying both the Bangladeshi flag and fresh ambition—to one day stand atop Mount Everest.

“If I get the right funding and health, I'll go higher,” he said. “Climbing isn't just about reaching the top. It's about rediscovering who you are—one step at a time.” - UNB