The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The body of celebrated swimmer Arun Kumar Nandi reached here Monday afternoon from Kolkata.

National sports award winning swimmer Nandi died at his sister's residence in Kolkata on Sunday at 9:15 am at the age of 68.

His body will be brought to Bangabandhu National Stadium today (Tuesday) at 10 am for admirers to pay their last homage to the swimmer.

Newly elected general secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation Mahbubur Rahman Shaheen and other officials of the federation received Nandi's body at the Benapole border at 11 am on Monday.

Later, the body was brought to the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur Monday evening, where swimmers and sports loving people paid their respect.

Nandi, a lifelong bachelor, went to Kolkata on November 3 for treatment of diabetes and kidney diseases.

Nandi, also a freedom fighter, 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 1996, also served the Bangladesh Swimming Federation as the vice president from 2003-2006 and as executive member in 2006-07.