Deep in the cloud-wrapped hills of Bandarban, where ridgelines fade into mist and maps have long told conflicting stories, a quiet expedition is closing in on a definitive answer to a decades-old question: which is the highest point in Bangladesh?
The answer, officials say, is finally within reach.
After years of debate, competing claims and mountaineering lore, the government is preparing to officially declare the country’s highest peak in the first week of May. The announcement will follow a scientific survey now underway across some of the most remote terrain in the south-east.
Speaking at an exchange with journalists at the Bandarban Circuit House on Friday night, Brigadier General Nur-e-Alam Mohammad Jobayer Sarwar, Director General of the Survey of Bangladesh, said the long-standing uncertainty is being resolved through precise, modern measurement.
“For years, different peaks have been claimed as the highest. This time, we are determining it scientifically,” he said.
Science climbs the hills
Since April 4, four survey teams comprising 27 members have been trekking through hard-to-reach areas in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas. Their work goes far beyond traditional mapping.
Equipped with advanced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) systems, total stations and precision levelling instruments, the teams are measuring elevation with centimetre-level accuracy.
The data is being calibrated against the mean sea level using a newly developed geoid model, ensuring results are aligned with international standards.
So far, eight peaks have been measured, with more scheduled before the survey concludes on April 12.
Into challenging terrain
The fieldwork is as demanding as the science itself.
Survey teams are navigating steep mountain trails, river crossings and areas with limited connectivity, including Thanchi, Remakri, Ruma and Tindu. Each measurement requires careful setup and hours of stable data collection, often under unpredictable weather conditions.
Despite the challenges, officials say the operation is progressing as planned.
A debate older than maps
For decades, Keokradong was widely regarded as Bangladesh’s highest peak, even becoming a popular trekking destination. Over time, however, new contenders emerged.
Peaks such as Saka Haphong and Tajingdong, along with Jamtullang, Yougihafong and Aitlang, entered the debate, each supported by varying measurements and local claims.
The absence of consistent, scientific data has kept the question open for years.
“This initiative will finally settle it,” an official involved in the survey said.
More than just a title
Beyond resolving a geographical debate, the implications are wider than they appear.
Accurate elevation data is essential for national mapping, disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning and climate research. In a country increasingly vulnerable to climate change, even the precise height of its highest point carries importance.
Officials say that once fieldwork and formalities are complete, the announcement will not only identify the highest peak but also mark a significant step forward in Bangladesh’s geospatial accuracy.
Until then, the hills remain silent – holding, perhaps for just a few more weeks, one of the country’s simplest yet most enduring mysteries.