Bangladeshi swimmers cross English Channel after 37 years

The Bangladesh High Commission in London on Wednesday accorded a warm reception to two Bangladeshi swimmers, Mahfizur Rahman Sagar and Nazmul Haque Himel, for successfully crossing the English Channel, marking the feat by any Bangladeshi after nearly four decades.

The swimmers were welcomed at the High Commission in the afternoon at the invitation of High Commissioner Abida Islam, according to a message received here this morning.

High Commissioner Islam said the High Commission was proud of the duo's remarkable success.

"Their achievement has reignited Bangladesh's legacy in long-distance swimming. They have set an inspiring example for the nation's youth to take on bold, global challenges," she remarked.

The high commissioner expressed hope that such achievements would continue to uplift Bangladesh's image internationally and motivate future generations of athletes.

Describing the momentous swim as "a great opportunity to bring honour to Bangladesh," Mahfizur Rahman Sagar said he had long prepared for this challenge.

Recounting the experience, he said the icy waters nearly froze his body, but he endured and eventually completed the crossing in 12 hours and 10 minutes.

Nazmul Haque Himel, the other swimmer, echoed the sentiment, saying he faced extreme adversity in the freezing waters but remained determined to complete the journey. "Crossing the English Channel requires immense mental and physical resilience. I've been training for years to overcome the bitter cold," he said.

The two swimmers began their Channel journey at 8:30 am (Bangladesh time) on Tuesday.

The English Channel, a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean separating the United Kingdom and France, spans approximately 562 kilometres in length, with its width ranging from 34 to 240 kilometres, depending on location.

The first Bengali and Asian to conquer the Channel was Brojen Das, who crossed it six times between 1958 and 1961. He was followed by Abdul Malek in 1965, and then Mosharraf Hossain in 1988, the first Bangladeshi to achieve the feat after the country's independence.