Bangladeshi Hafiz Nuruddin Zakaria has won first place in the fourth category of the 46th King Abdul Aziz International Quran Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation Competition in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The result was reported on August 20, 2026. Zakaria surpassed hundreds of contestants from 133 countries to become the top performer in his category.

Zakaria is a student of Ar Rayhan International Madrasa in Bangladesh’s capital. The fourth category assesses contestants’ memorization of 15 parts of the Quran, accurate recitation and tajwid skills. He advanced through the competition’s stages before securing the top position under evaluations by Saudi and international judges.

The competition, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, featured 334 participants across five categories. A total of 50 winners will receive prizes, while the event’s total prize fund was 12.6 million Saudi riyals. Zakaria said the Quran had brought him from a small village to the holy city of Mecca, and described competing with participants from different countries at Masjid al-Haram as a major honor and memorable achievement.