Najmun Nahar, the first Bangladeshi globetrotter to carry the national flag across the world, has achieved the extraordinary milestone of visiting 178 countries. She is also the first Muslim woman in the world to reach this remarkable feat, her latest destination being Papua New Guinea. Najmun Nahar was warmly congratulated by Papua New Guinea’s Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, during a special meeting acknowledging her incredible achievement. Prior to this, she explored the Solomon Islands, her 177th destination, where the prominent local newspaper Tavuli News featured a story on her journey, written by renowned journalist Georgina Kekea. Indian FS Vikram Misri arrives in Dhaka for bilateral talks amid tension Throughout her travels, Najmun Nahar has proudly showcased the Bangladeshi flag, bringing honour to her homeland. Alongside this, she has carried messages of global peace, unity, and environmental conservation to the many communities she visited.

Najmun Nahar, the first Bangladeshi woman traveller to visit 152 countries carrying the national flag, has received three awards on International Women’s Day-2022. Najmun received Special Award in London while Women Warrior Award and Branding Bangladesh Award in Bangladesh. Her elder sister Kamrun Nahar received the Bangladesh Women Warrior Award from Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque at the ICCB Convention Hall organized by Real Heroes Expo and Communication on Tuesday, International Women's Day. On the same day, Najmun bagged the Branding Bangladesh Award. Her one more elder sister Jobaidatun Nahar received this award from the Nepalese Ambassador to Dhaka Mr Kumar Raj at the Green House Convention Hall organized by E-Club (Entrepreneurs Club of Bangladesh). READ: Globetrotter Najmun Nahar bags coveted 'Peace Runner Award'  Najmun was also awarded with the 'Special Award' on behalf of the expatriate from Bangladesh’s Noakhali district at ‘Noakhali Festival’ in the presence of Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs and other prominent personalities at the Royal Regency Convention Hall in London on March 6. Earlier she had received the USA’s 'Peace Torchbearer Award', one of the most prestigious awards in the world. She also received the Ananya Top Ten honors, Peace Runner Award, Rebel Women Award, Miss Earth Queen Award, Game Changer of Bangladesh Award, Most Influential Women of Bangladesh, Globe Award, Atish Dipankar Gold Medal Award, Zonta International Award, Three Bangla Honors and Red Crescent Motivational Award. She has received over 50 awards at home and abroad, including the title of 'Flag Girl' in Zambia, the Successful Women Award, and the Lakshmi Youth Award. On October 6 last year, Najmun achieved the milestone of reaching Sao Tome and Principe, the 150th country in the world. In her 21 years of world tour, on the 50th anniversary of Independence of Bangladesh, she finally set the record of travelling to 152 countries. Najmun’s world tour began in 2000 with her participation in the India International Adventure Programme at Pachmarhi in India’s Bhopal state. On June 1, 2018, she achieved the milestone of reaching the 100th country -- actually the Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. READ: Najmun Nahar Shohagi: Bangladeshi globe trotter aims to travel 200 countries With the flag of Bangladesh, she spread the message of world peace to schools, colleges and people in the remote areas of the world. Najmun, who holds a higher degree from Lund University in Sweden, has previously worked as a researcher. She studied human rights at Seoul National University in South Korea.

While many girls and women of Bangladesh are facing challenges in diverse sectors like education, employment, basic rights, security, etc, a proud daughter of the country shocked the world with her amazing bravery. Najmun Nahar finally enlisted 150 countries to her profile by setting foot on Saotome and Principe, the riverine countries in Central Africa on October 6, 2021. It took her 21 years to set this world record. In a word, Najmun Nahar, a woman of determination and intelligence, is a real-life model to women in Bangladesh. This article is based on the story of her travels. Najmun Nahar belongs to Bangladesh Najmun Nahar was born on 12 December 1979 in the village of Gangapur in the Laxmipur district of Chittagong. Father Mohammad Amin, who died in 2010, was a businessman. Mother Tahera Amin was the traveling companion of Najmun in 14 countries. Najmun is the youngest of eight siblings. She is known as Shohagi to the family. Read Bangladeshi globetrotter Najmun Nahar makes history with 150th country-visit She completed her secondary and higher secondary education at Laxmipur town. Then she did her graduation and post-graduation in political science from Rajshahi University. Later, she came to Dhaka and worked as a journalist in an entertainment newspaper for a while. She moved to Sweden in 2006 after receiving a scholarship for higher education. There she earned a master's degree in Asian Studies from Lund University. She also studied human rights and Asia at Seoul National University in South Korea. During her career, she has worked as a researcher on research projects at various international organizations. Besides, she was a volunteer in the Bangladesh Girls Guide Association from 1997 to 2011. Being unmarried, this strong and dignified woman dares to move forward to fulfill her dream of visiting the world. Not to mention, the continuous success stories of this 41-year-old traveler brings limitless praises for her motherland and elevated the status of the country to a new altitude.  Read: Dream-chasing Najmun Nahar recognised by Fobana The Backdrop of Najmun Nahar becoming a world traveler Najmun’s Grandfather Alhaj Maulvi Ahmed Ullah, an Islamic Scholar, was also a traveler. Najmun used to amaze by listening to the stories of her father’s Middle East journey. From school life the dream of traveling the world began to take root in her mind by travel books of local and foreign writers including Syed Mujtaba Ali. Along with this, the inspiration came from her late father and siblings. As a result, she has got ample opportunity to develop her talent from adolescence. And this talent allowed her to travel to different parts of the country. The first chance to set foot outside the country came while studying at Rajshahi University. A team led by her from Bangladesh Girls Guide Association was sent to an international adventure program in India. The conference of 80 Girl Guide Associations and Scouts of the world was held in Panchmari, Madhya Pradesh. Read: Visit Niladri Lake, Sunamganj: A Piece of Kashmir in Bangladesh Najmun used to travel to a new country with whatever savings she could make from the part-time jobs. She had to work very hard to save the extra money to fulfill her traveling enthusiasm. On some days, she used to work from 17 to 18 hours straight. Najmun always kept a close eye on foreign travel and accommodation at a low cost. During her higher education in Sweden, Najmun sailed to Finland with a few months' savings. And from then on her regular country tour started.

Bangladesh’s most famous woman globetrotter Najmun Nahar accomplished yet another travelling feat conquering the 150th country of the world and carrying the national flag there on Wednesday. Sao Tome and Principe has been the 150th country visited by the seasoned adventurer, who moved there from Luanda, Angola. Sharing her joy over this incredible achievement on her verified Facebook profile, she wrote: “Dear Bangladesh, I am on the way to visit my 150th country, and within a few hours I am going to touch this milestone through travelling the world with my red-and-green flag.” “What makes the matter even more special is that the achievement has been made at a time when we are celebrating 50 years of our independence. I have flown the flag of our 170 million people in 150 countries over the last 21 years, and it brings tears of joy in my eyes,” she added. Read: Dream-chasing Najmun Nahar recognised by Fobana Thanking her countrymen and admirers for their constant and overwhelming support, she wrote, “This achievement belongs to all Bangladeshi people all over the world, and I can certainly say that today, my dream has come true. After 21 years of hard work and pursuit, today I am touching this milestone, proudly bearing the flag of Bangladesh in 150 countries.” Currently visiting Africa, Najmun Nahar started her latest journey on August 8, and so far visited Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Namibia, and Angola. A proud recipient of the Miss Earth Queen Award and Youth Conference Globe Award at the Fobana Summit, Nassau Coliseum in 2019, Najmun has established herself as the most-travelled Bangladeshi female globetrotter since 2000. She has also received the Atish Dipankar Gold Medal Award, the Red Crescent Motivational Award and the Zonta International Club Award, in the category of outstanding contribution to women empowerment.

Dhaka, Sept 6 (UNB)- Najmun Nahar, a Bangladeshi globetrotter, has been honoured with the ‘Miss Earth Queen Award’ at the 33rd Convention of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) in New York.