Mountaineer Bithi comes under attack

Bangladeshi mountaineer Shayla Bithi was attacked by unidentified assailants on Saturday (September 21) around 2:00pm while crossing the footbridge on Dhanmondi Road 27 in the capital.

Following the attack, Bithi went to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station to report the incident.

Bithi’s husband Taimur Faruk Tusher, also a journalist, shared on Facebook that Bithi was assaulted from behind as she crossed the footbridge, with the attackers grabbing her by the hair and beating her. Her lips were swollen, and she sustained multiple injuries across her body.

Tusher added, "The police must investigate to uncover who was behind this attack and their motive. Given that the attack occurred in broad daylight, CCTV footage should help identify the culprits."

Officer-in-charge Mozammel Haque of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station confirmed that Shayla Bithi and her two colleagues had filed a report and assured that appropriate legal action would be taken.

Shayla Bithi, a seasoned mountaineer, has undertaken eight treks and training expeditions.

In October 2021, she last climbed Island Peak in the Himalayas. She completed a basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in India in 2016.

Bithi made history in May 2018 as the first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Lakpari Peak (7,045 meters) in Tibet. In May 2019, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the Durgesh Tashi Lapcha Pass (5,755 meters) in the Himalayas. She also crossed the famous Three Pass of the Himalayas in November 2021.

Her other achievements include trekking to the base camp of Mount Kejajuri (15,500 feet) in Nepal in 2015, climbing Mount Mera (6,474 meters) in October 2016, and crossing the Throngla Pass (5,416 meters) in Nepal in April 2017. In October 2017, she completed the Manaslu Circuit (5,106 meters) as part of the first Bangladeshi team.