Walking a Thousand Kilometers: A Journey of Purpose
By: Jahangir Alam Shovon
(On March 28, it marked 9 years since Jahangir Alam Shovon completed his epic walk from Tetulia to Teknaf. In 46 days, he covered 1,176 kilometers on foot. Here, we revisit the story of that inspiring journey.)
This is Our Country. It’s Our Responsibility to Build It.
If we want a happy, prosperous, and safe Bangladesh, we must dedicate ourselves to serving the nation. Simply criticizing problems or standing idle won’t fulfill our responsibilities. With this belief, I stepped out of my home on February 12, 2016, to awaken the spirit of nation-building among the people of Bangladesh.
For 46 consecutive days, I walked 1,176 kilometers, speaking to school and college students, factory workers, farmers, travelers, and villagers—anyone and everyone I met. My message was simple but strong: we all have a role to play in building our country.
In addition to promoting patriotism, I advocated for protecting children from abuse, preserving folk culture, conserving the environment, planting trees, preventing child marriage, and raising awareness against drug abuse. I urged students to understand that regardless of their social status, the country expects contributions from each of them. Even if we cannot do great things, we can at least avoid actions that harm our nation.
Where the Idea Came From
While most of my classmates in school read fictional stories, I was drawn to true adventure tales. Those stories transported me to frozen rivers in Siberia, the icy deserts of the South Pole, isolated islands, and hidden chambers of ancient pyramids. Over the years, I traveled to more than 42 districts in Bangladesh and explored parts of India and Nepal.
In 2016, when the Government of Bangladesh declared it the “Year of Tourism,” I decided to embark on a journey unlike any other—from Tetulia in the north to Teknaf in the south—on foot. On March 28, at 5 PM, I reached the island of Shahparir Dwip in Teknaf. Waving the red and green flag of Bangladesh, I paid tribute to the brave martyrs of our Liberation War.
The Journey in Numbers and Impact
I walked across 18 districts, covering more than 1,176 kilometers in total. The distance extended beyond 1,000 kilometers due to detours for visiting historical landmarks and participating in social campaigns. The journey was supported by the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, sponsored by Tour.com.bd, and received tracking assistance from Dinratri.com. Over a hundred news outlets, including Prothom Alo, published illustrated stories about the expedition.
In 2017, my travel memoir titled “Dekhbo Bangladesh, Gorbo Bangladesh” (Witness Bangladesh, Build Bangladesh) was published at the Ekushey Book Fair. Through this book, I shared my experiences, ideas, suggestions, and emotions related to our country and its tourism potential. Published by Sahityodesh, it highlights both the challenges and possibilities of Bangladesh’s natural beauty and tourism sector.
The True Reward
Throughout the journey, local law enforcement and ordinary people welcomed me with warmth and respect. Even a year after the walk, I still receive calls from people saying they were inspired to walk or contribute to the country in some way. Thousands of students told me they dream of working for the betterment of Bangladesh. That is my greatest reward. I counseled parents to send their children to school, encouraged voluntary blood donation in Chittagong, and helped the poor along my journey however I could.
I hope to continue this spirit of serving my country throughout the year and, from time to time, organize similar initiatives to spread my message.
Dedicated to the People
From the beginning, I dedicated this journey to the people of Bangladesh. If my effort inspires even a small step toward national development, then it was all worth it. Let the resolve to build a better Bangladesh rise in every heart.
If you’d like, I can also turn this story into a short documentary script, infographic timeline, or social media storytelling post. Just let me know!
