Nazmul Haque Himel, a swimmer from the remote haor region of Nikli in Kishoreganj, has etched his name into history by successfully crossing the English Channel — the 33.4-kilometre stretch of cold, unpredictable waters separating England and France — alongside fellow national swimmer Mahfizur Rahman Sagor.
Completing the swim in 12 hours and 20 minutes on 29 July, the duo became the first Bangladeshis to achieve the feat in 37 years. With this success, they join the ranks of legendary swimmers Brojen Das, Abdul Malek and Mosharraf Hossain, who crossed the Channel in 1958, 1965 and 1988 respectively.
Braving rough seas, cold water temperatures ranging from 15 to 19°C, jellyfish, and even bouts of sea sickness, their journey stood as a testament to both endurance and grit. “Crossing the English Channel was my dream,” Himel said during a visit to his village home. “When I finally made it, all the fatigue disappeared. It was an indescribable feeling.”
Born in 1989 in Mirhati village of Nikli, Himel is the third of four siblings in a family steeped in swimming tradition. His father, Abul Hashem, a national swimmer in the 1980s, introduced Himel to the sport in 1997 and coached him at the Nikli Swimming Club.
“Nazmul had confidence,” said Hashem. “But he also worked extremely hard. To train for the cold, he sat in drums filled with ice for hours.”
Between 1998 and 2008, Himel claimed 26 gold and 21 silver medals at national level, along with six age-group records. Despite this, an Olympic appearance eluded him. “No one from our family made it to the Olympics,” Himel said. “So we planned to achieve something big — and this was it.”
His achievement has sparked pride and inspiration throughout his community. However, it has also brought renewed focus to a long-standing demand: a proper swimming facility in Nikli. Despite producing multiple accomplished swimmers, the area still relies on local ponds for training.
“We’ve been demanding a swimming pool for years,” said locals. Nikli Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rehana Majumdar Mukti responded positively, promising action. “Nazmul’s achievement has raised the reputation of our haor. We will reach out to the district sports authorities to develop local talent.”
The English Channel remains one of the most iconic challenges in the swimming world. With their historic crossing, Himel and Sagor have not only brought honour to Bangladesh but also rekindled a proud legacy that lay dormant for nearly four decades.