The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

National sports award winning swimmer Arun Kumar Nandi died at his sister's residence in Kolkata at 9:15 am on Sunday. He was 68.

Nandi, a lifetime bachelor, was suffering for long from diabetes and kidney diseases. He left here for Kolkata on November for treatment.

Celebrated swimmer and freedom fighter Arun Nandi was born in Bagadi village of Chandpur district on November 26 in 1941.

He made world record in endurance swimming - 90 hours and 5 minutes - in October 1971 in West Bengal to create public opinion for the independence of Bangladesh.

As a long distance swimmer Nandi took part in the Narayanganj-Chandpur long distance swimming in 1964 and also in the Daudkandi-Narayanganj 32-kilometer long swimming competition in 1965-66.

Nandi, who received the national sports award in 1997, also served the Bangladesh Swimming Federation as the vice president from 2003-2006 and as executive member in 2006-07.

Chairman of National Sports Council and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, also the President of Bangladesh Olympic Association, has condoled the death of Arun Nandi and prayed for the salvation of his departed soul.

Besides, National Sports Council, Bangladesh Olympic Association, Bangladesh Swimming Federation, Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association and Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community also condoled the death of Arun Nandi.