Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – A group of Bangladeshi and Nepali mountaineers have scaled a previously unconquered Himalayan peak and named it after the two South Asian nations, a foreign ministry statement said on Wednesday.

A 10-member joint team climbed the summit of the 6,257-metre (20,528-foot) mountain — known locally as Chekigo — on Monday, two weeks after the expedition began, the ministry said. “Now the peak will be named as the Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Peak,” it added.

M. A. Mohit, member of Bangla Mountaineering & Trekking Club (BMTC) and the leader of the Bangladesh team today informed the Embassy over phone that on 18 October 2010, at 8:00 am first group climbed the peak. Another group for same expedition also became successful to summit at 3:00 pm. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa was the leader of Nepalese team, according to the statement.

After the success, Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association informed the Embassy that the Association is going to circulate one press-release by Wednesday evening.

BBN/SSR/SI-21Oct10-12:32 am (BST)