Md Sabbir Hossain :
Ivy Rahman Swimming Pool, adjacent to the National Stadium in the capital, is out of service due to shortage of water.
A source in condition of anonymity told to this reporter on Sunday, “Since after Eid-ul-Fitr on April 1, the authorities have been failing to not run the swimming pool due to the stoppage of supply of water.”
It may be mentioned that members of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) along with their children learn swimming every year using this facility. Besides, the Swimming Competition of DRU is held here every year.
Talking to this correspondent over mobile phone, an official of Bangladesh Swimming Federation said, ” I hope within one week the WASA will provide enough water for Ivy Rahman Swimming Pool to run it smoothly.”
The source said, ” Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) has been running the Ivy Rahman Swimming Pool in Paltan area and Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur in the city.
International swimming competitions, national swimming competitions and other prestigious swimming meets are held at the swimming pool of Mirpur.
On the other hand, the interested learners under the guidance of two instructors at Ivy Rahman Swimming Pool practice swimming at the facility paying money.
The BSF earns Taka one and half lakh as fees from the trainees yearly. Water of this pool is used for five days every week except Friday and Saturday. The employees change the water of the pool on the said two days.
The hockey players, volleyball players, kabaddi players, handball players, weightlifters, shuttlers use the pool for fitness training before any prestigious competitions.
The foreign coaches of Bangladesh Hockey Federation, Bangladesh Volleyball Federation, Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation, Bangladesh Badminton Federation have put emphasis on taking part in swimming before any competition.
The swimming pool remains shut for three months during the winter.”
He also said, “The swimming competition of the National School Madrasah and Vocational Training Institute is held every year at Ivy Rahman Swimming Pool.”
