London: The Bangladesh High Commission in London extended a warm reception to Bangladeshi swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagar and Nazmul Haque Himel for successfully crossing the English Channel, marking the first such achievement by any Bangladeshi in nearly four decades.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the swimmers were greeted at the High Commission in the afternoon at the invitation of High Commissioner Abida Islam. High Commissioner Islam expressed pride in their achievement, highlighting its significance in reigniting Bangladesh’s legacy in long-distance swimming. She emphasized that their success sets an inspiring example for the nation’s youth to tackle global challenges.
High Commissioner Islam further expressed optimism that such feats would continue to elevate Bangladesh’s international image and motivate future generations of athletes. Mahfizur Rahman Sagar described the swim as an opportunity to bring honor to Bangladesh, noting his extensive preparation for the challenge and recounting the difficulties faced in the icy waters, which he endured for 12 hours and 10 minutes.
Nazmul Haque Himel echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the mental and physical resilience required to complete the crossing. He shared his years of training to withstand the freezing conditions of the Channel. The two swimmers began their journey at 8:30 am Bangladesh time on Tuesday.
The English Channel, a portion of the Atlantic Ocean separating the United Kingdom and France, extends approximately 562 kilometers in length, with its width varying from 34 to 240 kilometers. Historically, Brojen Das was the first Bengali and Asian to conquer the Channel, crossing it six times between 1958 and 1961, followed by Abdul Malek in 1965 and Mosharraf Hossain in 1988, the first Bangladeshi to achieve the feat post-independence.