Two Bangladeshi nationals cross English Channel in 37 years

Two Bangladeshi nationals have crossed the English Channel, a strait in the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England and northern France, becoming the first Bangladeshis in 37 years to accomplish the remarkable feat.

The swimmers, former BKSP swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagor and Nazmul Haque Himel, successfully crossed the channel on Tuesday.

They began the challenging swim at 2:30 am UK time (8:30 am Bangladesh time) and completed the 33.4-kilometre crossing in 12 hours and 20 minutes.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines supported their expedition.

The first Bangladeshi (then East Pakistan) and South Asian to cross it was Brojen Das in 1958. He went on to complete the crossing five more times.

Mosharraf Hossain, South Asian Games gold-medalist, was the last Bangladeshi swimmer to achieve the feat in 1988.