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A mountaineer’s ‘peak of confusion’

BISHAWJIT DAS
It is still unsettled which is the highest mountain in Bangladesh, and Ginge Fullen, the world record holder for climbing the world's highest peaks, was in a dilemma over which one to conquer when he was in Dhaka on October 12.
Conflicting surveys say two mountains are higher than the other, whereas Mowduk, a third, unknown to Bangladeshis themselves, seems to be the highest.
The 1986 survey by the government found Keokradong 3,450 feet high, followed by Mowdak at 3,292 feet and Bijoy Hills or Tajindong at 3,141 feet.
But the 1991 government survey states Keokradong is 2,950 feet high -- 91 feet lower than in the previous survey.
The website, www.alpenergy.com states Keokradong is the highest peak with a height of 4,034 feet, but another site www.discoverybangladesh.com marks it at 4,632 feet.
The internet-based information opposes the statistics provided by the surveys of Bangladesh government.
Pilot in Charge, an American organisation, claims that Mowdak is higher than the other two.
Fullen, an English diver for Royal Navy of Britain, could not decide which one to climb since there is contradiction. He visited Bangladesh as part of his
world record programme and finally decided to climb all the three mountains finding no other way.
He started climbing mountains in 1991 after he broke his neck while playing rugby.
"Though I started with a plan to conquer the world and I would do that for my record; but now travelling, knowing people and making friends have also become one of the reasons for my visit," he said.
But he had a beetle bite in his right hand and was so severely injured that he had to cancel the programme. "I saw three doctors in Dhaka but could not rely on any because one prescribed me without even touching my wrist," he said.
"I would hopefully come again in January next year to conquer all the highest peaks of Bangladesh."
Fullen faced both natural and manmade obstacles to step on mountains of 47 countries. He had to cross through snakes, dangerous animals and odd weather. He even had a heart attack while climbing the Mount Everest.
He was mugged, arrested, saw wars and met rebels to name just a few of the social problems he faced.
"It is fun to meet people of different countries and cultures, with the amazing sights and moments on the peaks in different countries. Each of them is unique," he said.
***Ginge Fullen, the world record holder for climbing the world's highest peaks, was in a dilemma over which one to conquer in Bangladesh when he was in Dhaka last week***