Nearly 1,000 runners turned Hatirjheel into a carnival of energy Saturday as the ‘Beautiful Bangladesh Run 2026 (Season-2)’ blended fitness, fun and a vibrant campaign to showcase Bangladesh as a tourism destination.

Organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), the colourful morning event began at 6:00am from Police Plaza Point with a 7.5-kilometre competitive race and a 2-kilometre fun run.

Participants from all walks of life, particularly from the aviation and tourism sectors, joined the celebration, transforming Hatirjheel into a lively festival ground of movement, music and national pride.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat attended as chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners. He praised the initiative for promoting healthy living while strengthening Bangladesh’s tourism image.

Calling the event commendable, the minister said such innovative programmes inspire people and create positive visibility for the country. He also disclosed that the government is working to attract foreign investment for world-class tourism infrastructure.

“We are in talks with globally renowned institutions such as Emaar Properties, builder of Burj Khalifa. There are plans to involve them in developing Bangladesh’s tourism facilities through Public-Private Partnership (PPP),” he said.

Highlighting the sector’s vast potential, Millat said the government wants to take tourism to a new level. “Currently, tourism contributes around 2 to 3 percent to our GDP. We have a target to raise it to 6 to 7 percent in the future,” he added.

Title sponsor Rhythm Group added glamour to the event. Its Deputy Managing Director Abhir Hossain said the massive turnout from children to senior citizens reflected growing public awareness about health and community engagement.

ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar said the run has already become one of the forum’s flagship tourism promotion events.

“We want to take this initiative beyond Dhaka. Next year, we plan to stage the run on Marine Drive in Cox's Bazar,” he said, hinting at an oceanfront spectacle for the next edition.

Among others, Rhythm Group Managing Director Sohag Hossain, ATJFB General Secretary Baten Biplob and Race Director Safiullah Sumon also addressed the gathering.

In the 2km men’s race, Mohibur Rahman finished first, followed by Md. Animul Hasan and F A Selim. In the women’s category, Nur-e-Saba claimed top spot.

In the 7.5km race, Md. Elahi Sardar and Hamida Akter Jeba emerged champions in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively.

Winners received podium honours, air tickets to various destinations and raffle draw prizes — adding a travel-themed finale to a morning dedicated to promoting Beautiful Bangladesh.