Bangladesh’s Ehtishamul Haque Hira Jointly Wins First Place at 2026 International Quran Competition

Bangladesh’s Ehtishamul Haque Hira has jointly secured first place in the men’s Hifz category at the 66th International Quran Recitation and Memorisation Competition 2026, held in Malaysia.

Hira and Syria’s Abdul Rahman Jamal Ibrahim were declared joint champions after both scored 97 points in the competition. Malaysia’s Muhammad Izzul Afnan Sajali finished third with 96.33 points.

The five-day international competition began on October 6 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur and was inaugurated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Participants from several countries took part in the prestigious event, showcasing their skills in Quran recitation and memorisation.

The winners received their awards on Saturday, October 10, bringing the competition to a close.

In the boys’ Quran recitation category, Indonesia’s Muhammad Fauzi Ridwan secured first place with 94.67 points. Malaysia’s Sik Hasnul Taqiyuddin Sik Sajali finished second with 92.99 points, while Belgium’s Brahim Bougalab took third place with 92.17 points.

In the women’s Quran recitation category, Malaysia’s Nur Shakura Mohamed Musa emerged champion with 91.83 points. Singapore’s Atiqah Binte Suhaimi secured second place with 91 points, followed by Brunei’s Dayangku Siti Ummi Shaizanna Binte Pengiran Haji Marzuki, who scored 90.83 points.

In the women’s Hifz category, Niger’s Chafaatou Issoufou claimed first place with 96.17 points. Libya’s Minnah Ali Alsudani Agnaiyah finished second with 95.50 points, while Myanmar’s Thein Gyi Mon secured third place with 95 points.

The annual international competition aims to highlight excellence in Quran recitation and memorisation while fostering religious and cultural understanding among participants from different countries.

Hira’s joint victory brings international recognition to Bangladesh’s participation in the competition and highlights the achievements of Quran memorizers from the country.

The event also provided a platform for participants from across the world to demonstrate their abilities and celebrate their shared religious heritage.