Bangladesh goes the distance

Founded in 2019 by American and Bangladeshi co-founders, RBI set out to transform the running culture of a nation of 170 million people – introducing internationally certified courses, professional chip timing, and world-class event management to a country with a vibrant and passionate running community that had simply never had the opportunity to compete on the international stage.

Seven years on, the organisation is widely recognised as Bangladesh’s foremost race organiser, staging multiple events each year for thousands of runners across the country.

Now, RunBangla is taking its most ambitious step yet: this November RBI will stage its first-ever full marathon.

The race takes place in the eastern outskirts of Dhaka. In late November, the capital’s outer edges transform. Cool winter air settles over the landscape and morning mist lingers over open ground. The course itself follows newly constructed roads, punctuated by elevated bridges and short stretches of herringbone paving – a route that is fast, scenic and genuinely interesting to run.

Four distances will be on offer: the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and a 5K fun run – making this one of the most inclusive race weekends Bangladesh has hosted. RBI’s long-term vision is to grow this event into one of Asia’s largest marathons. But for now, the focus is on getting it right – quality first, size to follow.

Each year the organisation runs one open community race, one dedicated children’s event, and one women’s-centered race – a deliberate effort to build a running movement that reflects all of Bangladesh. Female participation has been a particular priority. RBI has long offered equal prize money across gender categories, and this marathon will introduce additional provisions to encourage more women onto the start line.

The marathon also arrives at a milestone moment for the organisation internationally. In 2025 RBI and partner ANIMO Racing Club registered their Hudson Mile event – staged in Hudson, New York – as a member of AIMS, making it the first ever one-mile event in AIMS’s 40-year history. Building on that achievement, RBI will launch the new international race series One Global Mile on 11 July 2026: a simultaneous one-mile race staged across multiple countries on the same day, uniting runners in the United States, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Morocco, India, Cambodia, Costa Rica, and the Maldives in a single shared moment. It is the first internationally coordinated running event ever created from Bangladesh and a powerful sign of where this organisation is headed.

For adventurous runners looking beyond the usual race calendar, Bangladesh in November is worth serious consideration. The weather is ideal, the hospitality is extraordinary, and the country’s running community – growing fast on the back of an economic boom – will make you feel the warmth of a movement still writing its history.

RunBangla International has spent seven years building the foundation. This November it’s time to run the full distance.