Riding the Begboti wave to the top
"It is from small streams that big rivers rise." Similar to the sentiment in Canadian writer Matshona Dhliwayo's words, Sohagi Khatun, Mukti Khatun, Mehnaz Khatun, Antara Khatun and Hossain Mondol completed an inspiring journey from a remote village swimming club in Jhenidah on the shores of Begboti River to the top levels and top sports institution.
Bikoshito Swimming Club has been helping realise local swimmers' dreams by utilising the river to provide them training.
The club's authorities bear the expenses of training students, as well as the rent of the office and its running expenditures.
The club was established in 2001 on the banks of the Begboti River running through the heart of Hatbakua village under Sadar Upazila
Since its inception, students, both male and female, have been given training and so got a chance at BKSP. At present, there are 30 students in the club who are trained from here.
Among them, Mondol, Mukti, Mehnaz and Antara have gotten admitted to the BKSP in Dhaka.
15-year old Sohagi Khatun said she won a national award being trained here.
Now she is swimming at the national level. She got a place in the list of "Sera Satarur Khoje Bangladesh" (Search for the Best Swimmer in Bangladesh), the joint initiative of the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Swimming Federation.
Daughter of Shakhawat Hossain of Dhananjoypur village, a rickshaw-puller, their family consists of five members. She said, "All this has been possible because of the benevolence and untiring efforts of the Bikoshito Club president and secretary."
Fighting poverty and various adversities, she has overcome and reached her goal.
Hossain Mondol said he got a chance at BKSP in 2016 after a frantic effort, encouraged by Sirazul Islam, secretary of the club. During the ongoing pandemic, Mondol -- an expert in diving -- is at home and continues his diving practice at the Begboti River. His father is a well-to-do farmer in the area.
"I am chasing a dream of becoming a famous swimmer," said 14-year old boy.
Mukti Khatun burst into tears while talking to this correspondent about her family and her own hardships.
Her mother divorced her father and married another man and her father left home to work in a garments factory.
"He does not take care of me. At last the trainer Sirazul Islam gave me shelter and trained me properly," 13-year old Mukti said, adding that Sirazul sir bears all her expenses.
"Students are trained by two trainers and we pay them Tk 10,000 per month and spend more Tk 15,000 more for office rent and the students' expenses, like training materials. We are committed to doing something good for the distressed and helpless ones." said club secretary Sirazul Islam.
"Mukti is in class seven at BKSP. She was admitted in 2017. She won four silver and one bronze medal in the Under-12 competition," Sirazul added.
"Mehnaz is a student of class eight at BKSP. She finished third in 50-metre freestyle swimming in 2019. Her father Anwar Hossain is a barber and they live in a tin-shed house. Her [BKSP] fees of Tk 700 a month is difficult for her father to pay," he said.
Sumon Shikdar, president of Bikoshito swimming club said they do not charge the trainees any fee.
"Every year, two-three students get a chance at BKSP, which makes us very happy. A big budget is needed, which is difficult for us. We have already started to set up another swimming centre at Gopinathpur water body. If we get any monetary support, we will be able to train more students."