Musa returns to hero’s welcome

“Many of Bangladeshis desire to conquer the Everest. Amid them I could make it. It is a matter of happiness and pride for me as well as for the country” is how Ibrahim Musa, the first Bangladeshi to scale the Mount Everest, sought to share his pleasure with the reporters after landing at Hazrat Shahzalal International Airport (HSIA) yesterday.
Musa came from Katmandu to Dhaka by a special flight of Youg One group of Korea and landed at 4.20 pm at HSIA. Family members of Musa and the sponsors had arranged the special flight to take the national hero back home.
“I reached the peak at 5 am (local time) on May 23 and hoisted the national flag. It was a historic moment for me and for the country,” he said.
“I did not fall in any kind of trouble on account of adverse weather conditions at the Everest…it was quite favourable for me, so I could accomplish my adventure,” he said and added that the Sherpas, who were accompanying him during the climbing operation, helped him immensely when his oxygen pipe suddenly leaked. “I did not panic to see the leak in the oxygen pipe, as the Sherpas immediately repaired it,” he said. The first Bangladeshi conqueror of the Mount Everest went on to narrate lot many similar exiting experiences of scaling the highest mountain peak in the world.
Musa said, “I am really happy and feeling proud as everybody so many people have taken their time out to come here and greet me.” He would frequently urge the reporters and others present at the airport to “please pray for me”.
“I will encourage and help the people, who are interested in mounting the Everest. I am so eager to share my historic moment with my family members, friends, well wishers and the people of the country,” Musa said.
He also expressed his gratitude for the institutions and organisations that sponsored him for the feat. “I am also grateful to my elder sister, who encouraged me for this adventure,” Musa said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a bouquet to Ibrahim Musa at the airport, which was handed him over on her behalf by Abdus Sobhan Golap, special assistant to the prime minister. Jahid Hossain Rashel, MP and chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Youth and Sports Ministry, also garlanded him.
Musa’s wife Sharabon Tahura Rimi, a senior assistant judge at Mymensingh Judge court, his son Wasi Ibrahim Raid and elder sister accompanied him during the 40-minute journey from Katmandu to Dhaka.
Musa’s father, Ansar Ali, who was awaiting for his son at the airport, said, “I am very happy on my son’s big achievement. It is an achievement for Bangladesh.”
Ali recounted that they would always discourage him from pursuing mountaineering but he would not listen listen to them. “In fact, we were afraid of his adventure in the mountains, as he was a son of the plains and had no training in mountaineering. However, Musa’s elder sister always encouraged and financed him for pursuing his passion. But today, I feel proud for his unprecedented achievement and the honour he has brought to the country,” he said.
Musa’s mother, Bilkis Begum, who had also come to receive her son, grand son, daughter and daughter-in-law, said “I cannot believe that my son has conquored the Everest.”

Courtesy of The Independent