Bangladeshi adventurer Najmun Nahar has reached the milestone of travelling to 185 countries, becoming the first Bangladeshi and the first Muslim woman to achieve the feat.

She reached her 185th-country milestone on August 7, 2026, during a visit to Bhutan.

Over a 26-year journey, Najmun Nahar has carried and raised Bangladesh’s red-and-green flag at more than 1,294 locations around the world, including mountain ranges and peaks, remote mountains, deserts, seas, oceans, islands and natural and historical landmarks, according to a press release.

Her journey, however, has been marked by challenges, uncertainty and encounters with potentially life-threatening situations.

A solo traveller, Najmun Nahar says she has travelled to all the world’s landlocked countries by road, often crossing remote borders and undertaking long overland journeys. During her expeditions, she has faced numerous risks but continued travelling across international borders.

She began her global journey in 2000 by participating in an international adventure programme in India.

Najmun Nahar reached her 100th-country milestone on June 1, 2018, with a visit to Zimbabwe. She then visited São Tomé and Príncipe on October 6, 2021, marking her 150th country.

Her visit to Vanuatu in September 2024 brought her total to 175 countries, while a trip to the Bahamas in December 2025 took the number to 184.

Through her travels, Najmun Nahar has sought to promote Bangladesh internationally while campaigning for peace, environmental protection and an end to child marriage under the messages: “No War, Only Peace, Save the Planet, Stop Child Marriage.”

She has visited more than 100 schools, colleges and universities around the world, where she has spoken about Bangladesh’s Liberation War, culture, heritage and achievements.

As a motivational speaker, Najmun Nahar has encouraged young people to develop courage, leadership, self-confidence, humanitarian values and determination to pursue their goals. She has also spoken on the TEDx platform.

She has also been involved in humanitarian activities and served as a goodwill ambassador for various organisations. She has worked as a goodwill ambassador for UK-based Safar for Peace, a platform representing 26 charity organisations, and has participated in initiatives supporting children affected by war and promoting peace.

In recognition of her travels and humanitarian work, Najmun Nahar says she has received more than 70 national and international honours and awards.

Among them, she received the Peace Torch Bearer Award from the United States in 2019. She has also received various titles and honours from government leaders and institutions in different countries.

In 2018, the Zambian government honoured her with the title “Flag Girl”. In 2023, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre honoured her with the title “Brave Girl”.

Governments, ministries, universities and prominent individuals in different countries have also recognised her achievements and contributions.