Hafez Ihteshamul Haque Hira, a talented student of Markazu Faizil Quran Al Islami in Mirpur-1, Dhaka, has secured first place in the Hifz-ul-Quran category at the 66th International Quran Competition 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

After several rounds of selection involving contestants from more than 100 countries, 38 countries competed in the final round. Ihteshamul Haque clinched first place in the Hifz-ul-Quran category, bringing international recognition to Bangladesh.

The competition was held from October 6 to 10 and inaugurated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. At a grand closing and award ceremony on Saturday, Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan presented prizes to the winners in the presence of government officials and distinguished personalities.

In recognition of his first-place achievement, Hira received 40,000 Malaysian ringgit in cash, a trophy, an Umrah or Muslim tourism package worth 5,000 ringgit, and a gold bar valued at 3,000 ringgit.

Previously, several outstanding students of the same institution, including Hafez Saleh Ahmad Takrim, Muaz Mahmud, Anas Mahfuz and Sa’d Nur, have also achieved remarkable success, including first-place finishes in international Quran competitions held in different countries.

Mufti Murtaza Hasan Faizee Masum, founder and principal of the institution and Khatib of Gulshan Society Jame Mosque, sought prayers from the people of Bangladesh for the students.

He expressed hope that Almighty Allah would accept Hira and all the institution’s students as qualified Islamic scholars, exemplary human beings and devoted preachers of Islam.