Bangladesh hosts first ultra-endurance race
36-hour continuous run draws hundreds of athletes, sets national distance record, and signals Bangladesh’s growing ambitions in global endurance sports
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has staged its first stadium-based ultra-endurance race, marking a milestone for the country’s long-distance running scene and its push to gain recognition in global endurance sports.
The Dhaka Stadium Run 2025, held from December 26 to 27, featured a continuous 36-hour race inside a major national sports venue, with athletes competing around a standard 400-meter track through day and night. More than 350 runners took part, including international participants, across four time-based categories: 36 hours, 24 hours, 12 hours and six hours.
The event was organized around the theme “Run for a Breathable Dhaka,” linking athletic endurance with concerns over air quality and urban livability in one of South Asia’s most densely populated capitals. Floodlit night racing and uninterrupted laps created a rare ultra-endurance spectacle within a closed stadium environment, a format still uncommon in the region.
A national record was set during the event when Ebad Ullah covered 233 kilometers, the longest distance ever completed by a Bangladeshi athlete in an ultra-endurance competition. In the women’s division, Sifat Fahmida Eti secured the top finish. Winners were also crowned across the remaining race categories in both men’s and women’s events.
Officials involved described the event as a breakthrough for endurance running in the country, both in terms of scale and international participation.
Race director Farhan Zaman said the initiative aimed to challenge perceptions about Bangladeshi athletes and demonstrate their capacity to compete in demanding ultra-distance formats. Organizers said they hope the success of the event will encourage more international-standard endurance competitions in Bangladesh and help place the country on the global ultra-running calendar.
The Dhaka Stadium Run adds to a growing trend of endurance sports gaining visibility in South Asia, as organizers increasingly use athletics to highlight environmental issues and urban challenges alongside competitive achievement.
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