On Saturday 10 May, Bangladesh officially launched its largest-ever swimming talent hunt program—“In Search of the Best Swimmer – Bangladesh 2025”—aimed at identifying promising and underprivileged swimmers from across the country’s remote and rural areas. The program was inaugurated at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur through a modest opening ceremony.
The event was inaugurated by Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Youth and Sports Adviser. Special guests included Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Hasan O. Rashid, Managing Director of sponsor organization Prime Bank. The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Abdullah-Al-Maksus, Convener of the program’s Steering Committee.
On the first day of the selection process, swimmers from Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, and Tangail participated in tryouts. Selected swimmers were awarded “Yes Cards” by the chief guest, signifying their advancement to the next phase.
During the ceremony, Mahbubur Rahman Shaheen, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, appealed for support in resolving critical issues, including scoreboard repairs, pool maintenance, and a longstanding unpaid gas bill. He noted, “Due to an outstanding gas bill of 40 million BDT, the gas connection has been cut off, making it nearly impossible to train during winter.”
According to the Swimming Federation’s plan, the talent hunt will be conducted in three phases across 15 venues in all 64 districts and 8 divisions of Bangladesh:
Phase 1 (May 10 – June 30): 600 swimmers will be selected from across the 64 districts.
Phase 2 (July 15 – October 2): From these, 100 will be shortlisted during a national camp held in Dhaka.
Phase 3 (October 5 – October 25): The final 50 swimmers will be chosen for an intensive two-year training program, running from November 10, 2025, to November 10, 2027.
Speaking at the launch, Youth Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan remarked, “Swimming is deeply intertwined with our daily lives in Bangladesh. This talent hunt will open doors of opportunity for swimmers hidden in every corner of the country. I encourage other sports federations to take similar initiatives.”
UA / TDS
