The Brahmaputra River enters Bangladesh from India at the Jhunkar Char border in Kurigram. Muhammad Rafiqul Islam started swimming from this entrance of the river on February 21. His goal is to swim to the Bay of Bengal. He has already covered about 400 kilometers of this 550-kilometer long waterway. His expedition is called ‘The Great Delta Swim’.
On the 19th day of the swim on March 22, Rafiqul swam about 22 kilometers from Char Atra in Shariatpur to reach the estuary (the confluence of the Padma, Meghna and Dakatia rivers) in Chandpur. He took a three-day break from today. Then, on March 26, he will start swimming again from the same place in Chandpur towards the Bay of Bengal.
Muhammad Rafiqul Islam participated in the Oceanman competition held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Photo: Courtesy of Muhammad Rafiqul Islam
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam told Prothom Alo, “The initial plan was to complete the swimming expedition by March 26. But due to some difficulties, it could not be completed as planned. I left Chandpur for Dhaka yesterday. I hope to start swimming again from March 26 and reach the Bay of Bengal on April 4 or 5.”
Rafiqul Islam swam 21 kilometers from Jhunkar Char on the first day and reached Gujimari Char. In this way, he reached the east bank of the Jamuna Bridge on the ninth day via Balasighat in Gaibandha and Pakulla in Bogra. After a three-day break, he started swimming again on March 13 and reached Chandpur via Tangail, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Dhaka, and Shariatpur. By water, he crossed the confluence of the Dudhkumar River, the confluence of the Teesta River, the confluence of the Jamuna and Brahmaputra, the confluence of the Padma and Jamuna, and the confluence of the Padma and Meghna.Read more
First time in St. Martin, and that too by swimming
This is how they swim from one river to another towards the Bay of Bengal.Photo: Courtesy of Muhammad Rafiqul Islam
Muhammad Rafiqul Islam’s swimming expedition is organized by the adventure-seeking organization ‘Abhijatri’. The organization has been organizing various swimming-focused events since 2018 with the aim of enjoying the beauty of rivers and seas and having adventures in this river-based country. Rafiqul Islam is accompanied by members of the expedition team in a kayak and a trawler at all times.
IT professional Muhammad Rafiqul Islam is a thrill-seeking person. He has previously swam on the Bangla channel. He has participated in the Oceanman Dubai competition. Last year, he went on an expedition to Antarctica, where he also swam in the freezing water.
Rafiqul Islam said about his experience of The Great Delta Swim expedition, “I have felt people’s curiosity, wonder, and love for the river since I started swimming. I have received the hospitality of many people along the way, they have arranged for me to stay overnight in their homes, cooked for me and fed me. I have also experienced anew how great a medium of mutual connection the river is.”
Source: Prothom Alo
