Bangladeshi dies on Mount Everest

Bangladeshi climber Mohammed Khaled Hossain has died while descending from the Mount Everest, officials say.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 May 2013, 03:54 AM
Updated : 21 May 2013, 05:54 AM

Nepalese media reported Hossain, 35, died in his tent on Monday, several hours after successfully climbing the summit.

His sponsor a Bangladeshi private television channel Desh TV confirmed the death.

Its head of marketing Sadequr Rahman Chowdhury told bdnews24.com the television channel was the media partner and sponsor of Hossain’s endeavour.

Hossain, member of Bangla Mountaineering and Tracking Club (BMTC), was popularly known as Sajal Khaled.

South Korean climber Sung Ho-Seo, 34, also died while attempting a climb without supplementary oxygen.

"The exact cause of [their] death is unknown, but altitude played a part," local official Gyanendra Shrestha was quoted as saying by the media.

He added the bodies would not be recovered until after the summit season ended so as not to interrupt other climbers.

Both men perished in the "death zone" -- above 8,000 meters, notorious for its difficult terrain and thin air.

Five other climbers have died on the 8,848-meter (29,029-foot) mountain this season.

BMTC member Riaz Ahmed said despite repeated attempts they failed to contact Khaled. “Nepalese sources confirmed he was killed during his descent,” he said.
Family members said Bangladesh consulate in Nepal contacted them on Tuesday to confirm the death.
Some 300 people have perished trying to reach the summit during the last six decades. The bodies of some of them remain on the mountain.
May is considered the best time for climbing in the Nepalese Himalayas because of mild weather and some 300 people have reached the top of Everest so far this year.
Khaled, a film director, started for Nepal on Apr 11. Before leaving, he had told bdnews24.com that it was his 15th expedition and second attempt to scale the Everest.
On the previous occasion, he had managed to reach around 24,000 feet but was forced to descend due to rough weather.