City Desk :
At a press conference last week, Chowdhury announced that the jump was scheduled for Saturday.
“When you start falling from the sky, it instils a sense of freedom in you. This spirit of adventure has always inspired me to push my limits and reach new heights.
This time, I will attempt a dive from 41,000 feet, holding a flag in my hand, which is challenging due to complex aerodynamics. I hope to put Bangladesh on the map,” he said.
Ashik Chowdhury, 40, is a career banker who regularly pursues skydiving. Since 2012, he had successfully completed 30 jumps before the latest one.
Raised in Jessore by a pilot father, Ashik developed an adventurous spirit from an early age.
While the highest jumps ever made were from space-Felix Baumgartner in 2012 at 127,852 feet and Alan Eustace in 2014 at over 135,889 feet, both using helium balloons-41,000 feet marks the highest ceiling for commercial aircraft.
Only spy planes and fighter jets can surpass this altitude, as above 36,000 feet is considered the stratosphere.
Ashik’s attempt was named “The Highest Ever Skydive with a Flag,” taking place at an airfield in the United States.
When asked why it was being held in the US, Ashik said typically commercial aircraft flew below 35,000ft.
“To go higher, specialized aircraft are required, along with favourable weather conditions, which are available in the skies over the airfields in the United States.”