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Ahmadul Kobir, Malaysia: Bangladesh’s Ehtishamul Hoque Hira has secured joint first place in the men’s Hifz (Quran memorisation) category at the 66th International Quran Recitation and Memorisation Competition in Malaysia, scoring 97 points.
Hira, representing Markazu Faizil Quran Al Islami in Dhaka, shared the top position with Syria’s Abdul Rahman Jamal Ibrahim, according to sources familiar with the results. Malaysia’s Muhammad Izzul Afnan Sazali finished third with 96.33 points.
The five-day international competition began on Tuesday, October 6, and concluded on Saturday, October 10, with the winners receiving their awards that day. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim inaugurated the event at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Kuala Lumpur.
Hira’s achievement drew congratulations from Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia, who expressed pride in his success on the international stage.
In the women’s Tilawah (Quran recitation) category, Malaysia’s Nur Syakura Mohamad Musa emerged champion with 91.83 points. Originally from Sarawak, she finished ahead of Singapore’s A’tiiqah Binte Suhaimi, who scored 91 points, and Brunei’s Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana Binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki, who earned 90.83 points.
Indonesia’s Muhammad Fauji Ridwan won the men’s Tilawah category with 94.67 points. Malaysia’s Cik Hasnul Taqiyuddin Cik Sazali finished second with 92.99 points, while Belgium’s Brahim Boughalab took third place with 92.17 points.
In the women’s Hifz category, Niger’s Chafaatou Issoufou secured first place with 96.17 points. Libya’s Minnah Ali Alsoudani Aghnayah finished second with 95.50 points, followed by Myanmar’s Thein Gi Mon with 95 points.
Hira’s achievement adds to Bangladesh’s long record of success in international Quran memorisation competitions.
An analysis of available records from 1982 to 2026 indicates that 35 Bangladeshi Huffaz have collectively secured 43 first-place finishes in international competitions. The number of victories exceeds the number of individuals because several contestants have won championships more than once.
According to information from the Huffazul Quran Foundation Bangladesh, Bangladesh’s international Hifz success dates back to 1982, when Qari Abdul Haque became the first Bangladeshi to win a first-place position in an international competition, in Libya.
Sakhawat Hossain won in Iran in 1994, followed by Mahmudul Hasan in 1996. In 1999, Imdadullah won in Egypt, while Farid Ahmed became champion in Iran. Nabil Walid won in Egypt in 2000, Ibrahim Bin Helal in 2001, Hossain Ahmad in Jordan in 2002 and Abdul Qadir in Egypt in 2003.
Fazle Rabbi Adel won in Dubai in 2007 and secured another first-place finish in Egypt in 2009. Mohammad Saiful Islam won in Jordan in 2010, followed by Hafiz Salahuddin in Iran in 2011.
In 2012, three Bangladeshis—Mohammad Tanvir Hossain, Ehsan Uddin Noman and Muhammad Saad Surail—won first place in separate categories in Saudi Arabia.
The following year, Mohammad Imadullah won in Saudi Arabia, Faria Taslim in Jordan and Hafiz Najmus Sakib in Dubai. Najmus Sakib won again in Saudi Arabia in 2014. That year, Hafiz Mohammad Zakaria also secured first place at the 21st International Hifz Competition in Egypt.
Bangladeshi contestants continued their winning streak in 2015. Najmus Sakib won in Sudan, Nahian Kaiser and Muhibbullah claimed titles in separate categories in Egypt, and Saeed Hasan became champion in Jordan.
In 2016, Abdul Akher won in Turkey, while Mohammad Zakaria triumphed in Bahrain.
In 2017, Abdullah Al Mamun won in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while Tariqul Islam secured first place in Dubai. Mujahidul Islam won in Egypt in 2018, followed by Mohammad Saifur Rahman Taqi, who became champion in Jordan in 2019.
Hafiz Saleh Ahmad Takrim won in Iran in 2021 and Dubai in 2023.
Bangladesh recorded several notable victories in 2024. Bashir Ahmad won in Iran, Anas Bin Atiq in Saudi Arabia, Muaz Mahmud in Turkey and Anas Mahfuz in Kuwait. Hafiz Abu Raihan also secured first place at the 11th International Quran Competition in Senegal. Muaz Mahmud won the 15-juz Hifz category in Saudi Arabia that year.
In 2025, Anas Bin Atiq won in Egypt. In 2026, Hafiz Ibrahim Sheikh secured first place in Malaysia, while Hafiz Mohammad Nuruddin Zakaria won the 15-juz Hifz category in Saudi Arabia.
Records maintained by the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh’s Department of Religious Outreach and Culture show that Bangladeshi Huffaz secured 37 first-place finishes in international competitions between 1994 and 2026. Additional records, including Qari Abdul Haque’s 1982 victory and several wins in 2014, 2015, 2024 and 2026, were obtained from the Huffazul Quran Foundation Bangladesh and the International Qiraat Organisation Bangladesh.
Combining information from these sources, the total number of first-place finishes by Bangladeshi Huffaz between 1982 and 2026 stands at 43, achieved by 35 individuals.
The record highlights Bangladesh’s sustained presence in international Quran memorisation competitions over more than four decades. Maintaining that achievement will require continued investment in training, mastery of Tajwid and the rules governing pauses and resumptions during recitation, alongside stronger institutional support for aspiring Huffaz.